LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



^ilelf j- 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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AT THE GATE OE DREAMS 



POEMS 



BY / 

JAMES B. KENYON 




BUFFALO 

CHARLES WELLS MOULTON 

1892 






Copyright, 1892, 
By James B. Kenyon. 



PRINTED BY 

C. W. MOULTON 

BUFFALO, N. Y. 



\ ^'^ttt ferinkleb age anb rosg t^ilbl^oob mtd; 

\ Sl^ere strange stars silber night's mgsteriotts streams; 

S^erc foagixrorn mortals tome fcoit^ foearg feet, 
^ g^nb brop t^cir bnrbens at t^e <Satc of greams. 

i 



CONTENTS. 
At the Gate of Dreams. 

PAGE 

In the Orchard 15 

A Vision of Eld 16 

The Robber 18 

My Kindred 19 

In Summer Fields 21 

At the Meadow Bars 22 

Drifting 24 

A Plea to Time 25 

A Song of the Ideal 27 

Reaping 29 

In an Old Garden 31 

Sleepyside 33 

The Old Path 35 

A Quest 37 

TheOdalik 38 

In Mid-Journey 40 

Elusion 42 

The Sole Request 43 

She Came and Went 44 

The Difference 45 

The Dead Pine • . . . 46 

Joan D'Arc 48 

Undiscovered 49 

Healing Nature 51 

On the Wheel 52 



6 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

An Incomplete Angler 54 

The World's Way 56 

The Two Paths . 57 

An Old-Fashioned Girl 58 

Lilac Blossoms 60 

Love's Sorcery 61 

Mine Adversary 63 

Not in Vain 65 

It Shall be Known 66 

The Caged Bird 68 

A Song of the Hills 69 

The King is Dying 73 

Guileless Eyes 75 

At Bethlehem 76 

Midnight at Bethlehem 78 

The Coming of the King 80 

In the Storm 82 

Risen 83 

The Child That Was 84 

Bylo-Land 85 

Sanbenetto 86 

Song for the Slain 87 

Omar Khayy^ 92 

Joy Cometh in the Morning 93 

Estranged 95 

A Hundred Years 96 

Nora 98 

The Present loi 

The Mohawk 103 

The Old Story 104 

Quatrains 106 

New Life, New Love 108 



CONTENTS, 7 

In Realms of Gold. page 

The Cricket iii 

By the Brook 113 

Pan 115 

A Memory of Theocritus 117 

Silenus iiS 

The Faun 120 

The Satyr's Theft 122 

Tacita 124 

Daphne 126 

A Maid of Sicily 12& 

In Arcady 130 

Echo's Lament 132 

A Roman Queen 134 

The Song of Bacchus 136 

The Tyrian's Memory 137 

The Burden of ^don 140 

Laconia 142 

Ceres 144 

The Fatal Test 146 

Come Back, Dear Days 14& 

Songs in All Seasons. 

The Re- Awakening 153 

When Bluebirds First Appear ...... 155 

The Belated Daffodils 156 

Song of the Spring 158 

Dandelions 15^ 

A Rainy Day 160 

Dawn 162 

Dusk 163 

A Summer Day 164 

Change 166 



S CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The Sweet-Pea 167 

Tiger-Lily 168 

A Perfect Day , . . 169 

Sunrise 170 

Morning 171 

Nightfall 173 

When the Day Declines 175 

Evensong 176 

Evening at Cape Ann 177 

Idle Days 179 

Seed-Time 180 

Harvest 181 

An Autumn Morning 182 

An Autumn Ballad 184 

The Waning Year 188 

A Hint of Winter 189 

Song of the North Wind 190 

Before and After 192 

Laus Mortis. 

Euthanasia 197 

A Ballad of Death 199 

The Avant-Courier 202 

Pax Mortis 204 

Nova Vita 206 

The Wanderer 207 

Unchangeable 209 

A November Grave 210 

Rondeau 211 

When Clover Blooms 212 

Tread Lightly 214 

Requiescat 215 

Finis 216 



CONTENTS. 9 

Out of the Shadows. p^^^ 

Dedication 219 

Part I. — Evening. 

Amo 221 

Love's Vagaries 221 

A Portraiture 222 

Rembrandtesque 223 

On Guard 224 

My Love is Like the Vastness of the Sea 225 

Flower and Thorn 226 

The Statue .226 

Sign and Symbol 227 

A Fantasy 228 

In the Shadows 228 

Doom 229 

Interlude 230 

Part II.— Midnight. 

Complaint 231 

Marah 232 

Sympathy 232 

Sweet Nature Hath a Being Like Our Own 233 

If it Were 234 

Foreshadowings 234 

Gone 235 

Supplication 235 

Unrequited 236 

A Fear 237 

Desolation 237 

A Winter Hope 238 

By the Sea 240 

In Spring 240 

Forget-Me-Not 241 



lo CONTENTS. 

PACK 

The Miniature 241 

Love's Consolation 242 

Death's Mystery . 243 

I Know Thee, Death 243 

Death and Night 244 

Bring Them Not Back 244 

Alone, Yet Not Alone 245 

Returned 246 

A Jewel 246 

Love's Mist 247 

A Lover's Psalm 247 

A Vigil 249 

The Morning Cometh 250 

In the Twilight 250 

Heart's-Ease 251 

Interlude 255 

Part III.— Morning. 

At Dawn 254 

Down the Lane 255 

A Birthday Song 256 

Love Brooks Not Delay 257 

A Memory 257 

Incognito 258 

An Idyl of Life 258 

Song 259 

Leave Me Not Yet 26a 

Carmen Noctis 261 

Hesper 265 

Morning Song 264 

Fior Di Levante 265 

A Lover's Vesper Song 266 

Apology 267 



CONTENTS. 1 1 

PAGE 

This Truth the World's 268 

Song 269 

Love's Healing 269 

My Lady 270 

Love's Mirror 272 

The Dream 272 

Song 273 

Revelation 274 

Carol 274 

All' Alba 275 

Love Doth Not in Castles Dwell .... 276 

Love Hath Come to Me 277 

A Song of the Sunset 278 

Overwrought 280 

Doubted 280 

The Gift 281 

Forbearance 282 

Love's Victory 282 

Recompense 283 

Epinicion 284 

L' Envoy— An Autumn Song 285 

Sonnets. 

After the Bath 289 

Arachne 290 

Nature's Child • 291 

Finem Respice 292 

One With Nature 293 

A Sea Grave 294 

Syrinx 295 

Vanished 296 

Romeo to Juliet 297 

Cleopatra to Antony 298 



12 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Vox Doloris 299^ 

Parting 300 

Joy in Sorrow 301 

Blind . 302 

Patience 305. 

When I Have Lived My Life 304 

Homesick 305 

"Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust 

in Him" 306 

" Sweet are the Uses of Adversity " . . . 307 

The Love Unspeakable 308 

Rizpah 309 

Hagar 310. 

Croesus 311 

A City Cry 312 

The Prophet's End 313 

The Traveler 314 

The Angel of Night 315 

Adam 316 

The Watcher 317 

When Night is Past 318 

Sundered 319 

Flown 32a 

October 321 

Archery 322 

On a Fly Leaf of Dante 323 

A Poet's Grave 324 

Edmund Spenser 326 

Longfellow 327 

Salve et Vale 328 

Grapes of Eschol 329 

The Belated Piper 330 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



IN THE ORCHARD. 

The autumn leaves are whirled away, 

The sober skies look down 
On faded fields and woodlands gray, 

And the dun-colored town. 

Through the brown orchard's gusty aisle, 

In sad-hued gown and hood. 
Slow passes, with a peaceful smile, 

A maiden pure and good. 

Her deep, serene, and dove-like eyes 
Are downward bent, her face. 

Whereon the day's pale shadow lies, 
Is sweet with nameless grace. 

The frolic wind beside her blows, 
The sear leaves dance and leap; 

With hands before her clasped, she goes 
As in a waking sleep. 

To her the ashen skies are bright, 

The russet earth is fair; 
And never shone a clearer light. 

Nor breathed a softer air. 

O wizard love! whose magic art 
Transmutes to sun the shade. 

Thine are the beams that fill the heart 
Of this meek Quaker maid. 

B 



1 6 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



A VISION OF ELD. 

How have the swift- winged centuries sped! 

What unguessed circuits time hath run! 
Yet, though uncounted years are dead, 

Shines on the same clear sun. 

I see once more the vaulted aisles 
That pierce the dim and cloistered wood; 

Again the pomp of summer smiles 
O'er all the solitude. 

Light breezes from the mountain side 
Bring bell-like hayings of the hounds; 

While slim ears, round the forest wide, 
Leap at the vibrant sounds. 

Amid the trees gay pennons gleam; 

And, hark! from soft-curved, supple throats, 
Heard silverly as in a dream, 

A peal of joy out floats. 

There sweeps the stately cavalcade; 

The high-born dames, the knightly men. 
With whip and spur prick through the glade — 

I see them all again. 

I see the proudly tossing plume; 

The glittering casque, the ribboned spear, 
And, riding through the fragrant gloom, 

Launcelot and Guinevere. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 17 

And where yon dusky branches spread 
Above the queen's deep-shadowed eyes, 

Sir Launcelot, with low-bent head, 
Hears Guinevere's repHes. 



1 8 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



THE ROBBER. 

Ay, he hath stolen her sweets and gone; 

The robber bee, upon his quest 

For honeyed booty, from the breast 
Of yon fair Hly now hath flown. 

In vain the south-wind wooes; 

In vain the ring dove cooes; 

Like unto some pale maid. 

The lily stands betrayed. 
Her nectared bosom pillaged and undone. 

Ah ! sad so white a breast should lie, 

With all its stores of virgin sweet, 
Thus to be prey for plundering feet. 

And spoil for any wanton eye! 
Yet many a bosom chaste 
Hath been by love laid waste — 
Light love that came and went, 
And left a life forspent 

Beneath a far, serene, and mocking sky. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



MY KINDRED. 

Where in forests deep and still 
Slants by mossy rims a rill — 
Where the fronded ferns are stirred 
By the swift, low-winging bird — 
Where amid the cloistered trees 
Dart the honey-seeking bees — 
There I know my kindred be, 
There they ever beckon me. 

I am kin to sylvan things: 

Where the vine-wrought roofing swings 

O'er dusk coverts leafy-green, 

And shy creatures frisk between 

Dewy sward and swaying limb; 

There from chambers cool and dim 

Many a pair of twinkling eyes 

Meet my own without surprise, 

And my kindred welcome me 

To their woodland revelry. 

I am kin to every flower 
Shedding perfume hour by hour, 
Kin am I to grass and weeds. 
And the drowsy- whispering reeds; 
To the streams that part and meet. 
To the wind-blown fields of wheat, 
To the tressed ranks of corn, 
To the midnight and the morn. 



20 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Me the pleasant south- wind knows; 
And the breath that shrewdly blows 
Over many a frozen firth 
Of the rude and ice-girt north, 
Deftly as the hands of Time, 
On my temples sifts its rime. 

I have glimpsed a smiling face 
Peering forth from many a place 
Where thick vines and saplings grow; 
And where tell-tale banks of snow. 
Piled in hollows soft and deep, 
Prints of lightest footsteps keep, 
I have traced with subtile care 
Trailing garments light as air. 
Bending an attentive ear. 
Through the thickets I can hear 
Sounds of laughter, clear and fine; 
And by tokens I divine 
Truths unknown to human speech — 
Secrets that my kindred teach! 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 2i 



IN SUMMER FIELDS. 

Beneath a leafy thatch to He 

And watch the pageant of the sky, 

The banners of the morning Hght, 

The kindUng splendors of the night; 

To see the lavish summer spread 

Its pomp above one's quiet head; 

To learn the secrets of the ground 

From myriad elfin voices round; 

To lie for happy hours and hours 

'Mid fresh, soft-bedded herbs and flowers, 

And see the insect armies pass 

Along the highways of the grass; 

To spy among the tangled weeds 

The nimble finches gathering seeds, 

Or, lost in grassy solitudes. 

Some monster of the mimic woods; 

To lie, and neither wake nor sleep, 

But feel the pleasant coolness <:reep 

Like waters o'er one's placid face, 

And murmur round his resting-place, — 

What deeper, what diviner bliss 

Could weary mortal ask than this ? 



22 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



. AT THE MEADOW BARS. 

She. "No, leave me now; each silly vow 
Will never move my heart, sir; 
Come, stand aside! the patient cow. 
Grown weary, soon will start, sir. 
You my unwilling hands may take. 
But thus, sir, you will never make 
My young and sleeping love awake; 
Come, leave me now! " 

He. "O cruel lass! the summers pass, 
And wane the days of wooing; 
Hearts are more brittle far than glass — 
Be not my heart's undoing. 
What though the milking-time be here ? 
Our love-time, Love, is also near; 
Ah, brief love's hope, but long love's fear- 
O cruel lass!" 

She. "The shadows fall, and night-birds call, 

O sir, stay not the milking." 
He. * * Nay, Love, but see, the roses all 

Are shed, and corn is silking." 
She. "O sir, the coming night makes haste." 
He. * ' O Love, but waiting love makes waste ' ' . 

She. "Now shame, my kirtle is unlaced." 
He. "But shadows fall. " 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 23 

She. "■ O sir, be true! — deep is the dew, 

And milking-time is over. ' ' 
He. "Ay, Love, love's waiting's over, too. 

And I am all your lover. ' ' 
She. **Now let me milk — you've torn my 

wimple." 
He. "But nay, first let me kiss that dimple." 

She. "There! one's enough, dear, don't be 

simple." 
Both. "Love, we'll be true! " 



24 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



DRIFTING. 

Athwart the silver dusk the fireflies float; 

The crescent moon, above the shadowy hill, 
Sails slowly downward like a little boat; 

The winds are sleeping, and the night is still, 
Save when amid the reeds along the shore 
A ripple washes, and is heard no more. 

The summer stars peer down thro' heaven's gray 
veil. 
And here and there, across the misty fen, 

A strange light wanders, now afar and pale. 
Now near and slowly waxing bright again. 

Silent past many a fairy bower we glide, 
Past rocking lily-pads and dipping boughs. 

By wreathing vines that sweep the dimpling tide, 
By smooth-mown meadows where the mild-eyed 
cows 

Lie 'mid the dews and take the night's sweet 
breath. 
A subtile perfume, from the distant woods. 

Steals lightly by and swiftly vanisheth 
Into the night's unfooted solitudes. 

Nature has charms the unanointed eye 
May never see; by many a common stream 

She sets her signs, and where her lovers lie 
In secret places, there are lights that gleam 
As beautiful and mysterious as a dream. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 25 



A PLEA TO TIME. 

Take, oh, take thy tribute, Time: 
On my forehead sift thy rime; 

Bear me downward, if thou must, 
Slowly toward my kindred dust. 

Clog with age each trembling limb; 
Press mine eyes till they be dim; 

Touch my brow with magic staff, 
Scoring there thine epigraph; 

As thou wilt, mar form or face. 
Only grant a single grace: 

From thine ever-mining tooth 
Spare, oh, spare the heart of youth. 

Let the song of Spring's first bird 
With the old delight be heard. 

Still the early rose be sweet. 
While the summers by me fleet. 

Let the sound of rain wet leaves 
Whispering round the dripping eaves. 



26 AT THE GA TE OF DREAMS. 

Winds amid the growing corn, 
Voices of the breathing morn, 

And the ever-vocal grass, 
Sweeter be as seasons pass. 

So from nature's gentle heart 
Let me never, never part; 

Let me take my final rest 

In her cool, and peaceful breast. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 27 



A SONG OF THE IDEAL. 

FACE I never saw, 
That still I seek 

By shadows of the shaw, 

By reed-grown creek; 
Through many a fern-deep hollow, 

And morn-lit mead, 

1 follow still and follow 
Where thou dost lead. 

Where beaded gossamers 

Like rainbows change 
With every breeze that stirs; 

Where wild things range 
Wild ways with shy, light feet, 

Through woodland dew, 
Thee, O unseen and fleet, 

I still pursue. 

Where winter, heap by heap, 

Chokes leafless dells. 
And unleashed ice-blasts sweep 

O'er fields and fells; 
Where shivering shrubs uplift 

Hands pale and gaunt, 
Through many an unsunned drift 

I seek thy haunt. 



28 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Where torrents from the hight 

Pour down their streams; 
Where in the wavering Hght 

The dark pine dreams; 
Where angry storm-winds beat 

And hghtnings play, 
I seek thy flying feet 

Day after day. 

Sometimes by silvern strands, 

When sea-winds sleep. 
And up the crinkling sands 

The thin waves creep, 
When misty twilight falls 

And night is near, 
Then from the sea's deep halls 

Thy voice I hear. 

Thou of the sun-bright head. 

Hide not thy face; 
Cloud-light thy breezy tread. 

Cloud-like thy grace . 
O whither dost thou flee ? 

Where wilt thou rest ? 
Still must I follow thee, 

Blest or unblest. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS, 29 



REAPING. 

Along the east strange glories burn, 
And kindling lights leap high and higher, 

As morning from her azure urn 
Pours forth her golden fire. 

From rush and reed, from bush and brake, 
Float countless jeweled gossamers, 

That glance and dazzle as they shake 
In every breeze that stirs. 

A bird, upspringing from the grain, 

Flutes loud and clear his raptured note, 

That mingles with as blithe a strain 
As e'er thrilled human throat. 

Amid the tasseled ranks of corn 

She stands breast-high; her arms are bare; 
And round her warm brown neck the morn 

Gleams on her lustrous hair. 

The sickle flashes in her hand; 

The dew laves both her naked feet; 
She reaps and sings, and through the land 

She sends her carols sweet. 

The wind breathes softly on her brow; 

To touch her lips tall blossoms seek; 
And as the stricken columns bow, 

They kiss her glowing cheek. 



30 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

O happy maiden! in her breast 
Guile hath no place; her virgin sleep 

Vain thoughts ne'er trouble; she is blest; 
She hath no tears to weep. 

She knows nor longs for prouder things; 

Her simple tasks are all her care; 
She lives and loves, and reaps and sings, 

And makes the world more fair. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 31 



IN AN OLD GARDEN. 

Down this pathway, through the shade, 
Lightly tripped the dainty maid, 
In her eyes the smile of June, 
On her lips some old sweet tune. 
Through yon ragged rows of box, 
By that awkward clump of phlox, 
To her favorite pansy bed, 
Like a ray of light, she sped. 
Satin slippers, trim and neat, 
Gleamed upon her slender feet; 
Round her ankles, deftly tied, 
Ribbons crossed from side to side. 
Here her pinks, old-fashioned, fair, 
Breathed their fragrance on the air; 
There her fluttering azure gown 
Shook the poppy's petals down. 
Here a rose, with fond caress, 
Stooped to touch a truant tress. 
From her fillet struggling free, 
Scorning its captivity. 
There a bed of rue was set 
With an edge of mignonette, 
And the spicy bergamot 
Meshed the frail forget-me-not. 
Honeysuckles, hollyhocks, 
Bachelor' s-buttons, four-o' clocks, 
C 



32 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Marigolds and blue-eyed-grass 
Curt'sied when the maid did pass. 
Now the braggart weeds have spread 
Through the paths she loved to tread, 
And the creeping moss has grown 
O'er yon shattered dial-stone. 
Still beside the ruined walks 
Some old flowers, on sturdy stalks, 
Dream of her whose happy eyes 
Roam the fields of Paradise. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 33 



SLEEPYSIDE. 

Piled against the turquoise sky 
Pearl-white banks of vapor lie; 
Lazily a fickle breeze 
Creeps along the dappled leas. 
Midway of the sleepy stream, 
Ruminating as they dream, 
Stand the drowsy-lidded kine, 
Shaded by a clambering vine. 
On the gray roofs of the town 
The high summer sun looks down; 
Grass is growing in the street, 
Where tanned reapers, with bare feet, 
Faring fieldward slowly pass, 
Or some brown, slim-ankled lass, 
Loitering dreamily along, 
Hums a half-forgotten song. 
From the latticed porches come 
Breaths of honeysuckle bloom; 
Sunflowers doze beside the wall; 
On the rick the sparrows call. 
Here no sounds of sordid strife 
Fret the peaceful ways of life; 
Steeped in languor are the days. 
As yon slopes are steeped in haze; 
Heeded less the passing hours 
Than the sunshine on the flowers — 



34 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Than the bee with dusty thighs 
That across the meadow flies, 
Pouncing Hke a burly lover 
On a nodding crimson clover. 
Somewhere 'mid the shadows deep 
Time has fallen fast asleep, 
And his idle scythe and glass 
By him lie upon the grass; 
Thus forever let him bide 
In thy thralls, O Sleepyside. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 35 



THE OLD PATH. 

This is the path she used to knowj 

Still by yon ruined wall 
The violets and wild roses grow, 

And sparrows build and call. 

Here barefoot towards the pasture-land 

She lightly tripped along, 
A dewy blossom in her hand, 

Upon her lips a song. 

I see again her soft white throat 
Swell like a warbling bird's; 

The clear air thrills, as through it float 
The old familiar words. 

And now she stands beside the bar, 

And where her cattle roam. 
Knee-deep in grassy dells afar, 

They hear and hasten home. 

sunny locks and eyes of blue, 
And face like morning skies. 

And tender lips whereon the dew 
As on a flower lies — 

Shall I not see thee as of yore ? 
And if, when night is done, 

1 linger as I did before, 
Here where the roses run, 



36 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Shall I not hear her as she goes, 
Nor see her garments wave ? 

Ah, no! in yon neglected close 
There lies her moss-grown grave. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 37 



A QUEST. 

Somewhere 'mid cloistered trees there lies 
A spot ne'er seen of human eyes; 
There all day long the shadows sleep 
In woven grasses, cool and deep; 
There o'er its shallows slants a stream 
In which the rushes dip and dream; 
All day to some tall reed there clings 
The dragon-fly with moveless wings; 
No bird-note wakes the slumbering air; 
No piping insects revel there; 
Within that quiet nook the breeze 
Scarce lifts the leaves upon the trees. 
It is the haunt where Peace abides, 
Shy Peace that ever flees and hides 
Before man's sad and weary face. 
Ah, should I find her secret place, 
And steal upon her silently. 
Or e'er her timid feet could flee, 
Might I not seize and hold her well. 
And bring her captive where men dwell ? 



38 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS, 



THE ODALIK. 

Beside the fountain's marble brim 
With languid steps she comes to stand; 

The snowy swans before her swim, 
And catch the dainties from her hand. 

Her arm rests on a porphyry vase, 
And from the long and heavy plumes 

Of that rich fan which screens her face, 
Float faint and delicate perfumes. 

On each slim ankle and white wrist 
The bangles chime like tiny bells; 

About her, like an azure mist, 

Her fluttering mantle sinks and swells. 

A dreamy music fills the air. 
The fountain tinkles in the sun. 

The watchful swans, with stately care, 
Glide slowly past her, one by one. 

Her broidered garments round her flow, 
And half reveal the charms they veil ; 

Within her jetty tresses glow 
The gems that make the sunlight pale. 

Her eyes look far away; she heeds 
No longer those who seek her alms — 

Not e'en that bolder one who pleads 
With beak against her velvet palms. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 39 

Lo, as she stands, what sudden flame 
Is kindled o'er her brow and cheek? 

Alas, the memory of her shame! 
She is the favorite odalik. 



40 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



IN MID-JOURNEY. 

An onward traveler, lo! I stand 
Midway the changed, uneven land; 
A moment now I pause to look 
Back o'er the path my feet forsook 
A brief while since: I see the stream 
Bright in the early sunlight gleam; 
I see the woven branches spread 
Where late I walked with naked head. 
And felt the wind's touch, light and free. 
Upon my forehead lovingly. 
Hushed are the voices that I heard — 
The laugh of maid, the song of bird; 
And now the flowers forget to blow 
Along the barren way I go. 
No more the glancing waters run 
O'er golden shallows in the sun, 
Or gurgle down the fragrant bed 
Where cool and green the cresses spread. 
No dew is on the withered grass. 
Nor shining rain; where'er I pass. 
The wind stirs with a mournful sound 
The dry leaves in the thickets round. 
In vain I seek with longing eyes 
Some sign within the sober skies. 
That once again the morning light 
Shall wake me to the old delight. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 41 

Behind me smiles, still fresh and sweet, 
The land of youth; with lingering feet 
I turn me to the onward way. 
And the strange landscape, chill and gray. 



42 AT THE GATE OF BREAMS. 



ELUSION. 

A SPIRIT stirs the summer grass, 
And whispers to me as I pass; 
I catch the gleam of flying feet, 
I smell a perfume warm and sweet. 

A sudden light, a rustling sound, 
Fleet swiftly o'er the dewy ground. 
And fade in yonder copse away. 
Where lurking shadows cheat the day. 

What eye hath seen that dimpled face ? 
Who yet hath found the secret place, 
That refuge in the dim, cool shade. 
Where flees and hides the laughing maid ? 

Ah, happy poet who may guess 
The ever-changing loveliness, 
The lightsome grace, the airy wiles 
Wherewith coy nature masks her smiles, 
And, stealing on her unaware, 
Behold her when she is most fair! 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 43 



THE SOLE REQUEST. 

God, I ask no other boon but this: 
To live, and let the quiet days go by, 
Feeling upon mine eyes the morning's kiss. 
Or breathing peace beneath an evening sky. 
While through the hours between, e'en love's least 

task 
Finds sweet fulfillment; nothing more I ask. 

The strenuous service of the great and wise. 
And the slow recompense the world bestows, 

1 seek not; only let me see the skies 
Flushed with the early sunlight, and the rose 
Pearled with the dew, and let me from the ground 
Catch with quick ear each fine, elusive sound. 

For me it is enough to see the grass, 
And feel beneath my feet the springing sod; 
To breathe the vital air as seasons pass. 
And gain fleet glimpses of the skirts of God, 
There on the hills where first the mornings lie, 
Or on yon waters where the sunsets die. 



44 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



SHE CAME AND WENT. 

She came and went, as comes and goes 
The dewdrop on the morning rose, 
Or as the tender lights that die 
At shut of day along the sky. 
Her coming made the dawn more bright, 
Her going brought the somber night; 
Her coming made the blossoms shine. 
Her going made them droop and pine. 
Where'er her twinkling feet did pass, 
Beneath them greener grew the grass; 
The song-birds ruffled their small throats 
To swell for her their blithest notes. 
But when she went, the blushing day 
Sank into silence chill and gray, 
The dark its sable vans unfurled, 
And sudden night possessed the world. 
O fond desires that wake in vain! 
She ne'er will come to us again; 
And now, like vanished perfume sweet, 
Her memory grows more vague and fleet. 
Yet we rejoice that morn by morn 
The sad old world seems less forlorn, 
Since once so bright a vision came 
To touch our lives with heavenly flame. 
And show to our bewildered eyes 
What beauty dwells in Paradise. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 45 



THE DIFFERENCE. 

Her plants bloom on the window ledge; 

Behind its wicker bars 
Her bird still sings, and by yon hedge 

Her lilies burn like stars. 

Beside the walk her pansies raise 

Their faces to the sun, 
And round her porch, in many a maze, 

The flickering vine-leaves run. 

Her slender wheel has ceased to hum 

Beneath her nimble hands, 
And there, close-shut and sadly dumb, 

Her sweet- voiced spinet stands. 

The doves still flutter to her door, 

And wait and coo in vain; 
And passers-by pause as of yore 

To hear her happy strain. 

But she who, like a fine perfume. 

Filled all the sunny place. 
Lies in a hushed and darkened room, 

With pale and pioveless face. 



46 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



THE DEAD PINE. 

Dark against the brooding sky 
Leans its scarred trunk silently; 
Round each gaunt and twisted bough 
No^ sweet breezes linger now. 
Like a sin-tormented ghost 
Prisoned on some twilight coast — 
Withered palms and hopeless face 
Pleading for a moment's grace — 
So along the dim sky-line 
Stands yon weird, misshapen pine. 
Once the wood-bird's timid note 
From its spicy glooms did float, 
And the squirrel's shrill challenge rang. 
As from limb to limb he sprang, 
Ere along their russet bed 
Its last scanty spikes were shed. 
Now no voice of beast or bird 
From its naked boughs is heard, 
Save when, on its topmost hight. 
Fierce freebooter crows alight, 
And with brawlings wild and rude 
Wake the echoes of the wood. 
Gone, forever gone, the years, 
When amid its towering peers 
It did hear the tempest rave, 
As the storm-rack o'er it drave. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS, 47 

Now it recks not though the meek 
Violet brush with velvet cheek 
Its shagged bark, to kiss the spring 
Through its tough roots murmuring. 
Ne'er for it shall fall again 
Cooling dew nor freshening rain, 
Nor the healing light that shone 
In the summers dead and gone. 



48 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



JOAN D'ARC. 

Once in the fields she watched her peaceful flocks; 

Light were her feet upon the sunny hills; 
For her the violets smiled beside the rocks; 

Hers was the silver music of the rills. 

She breathed fine odors from the woody place 
Where cool, deep ferns were set; above her head 

The summer sky leaned like a tender face; 
Along her path the morning dews were shed. 

But suddenly she heard the wild alarm 
Of deadly war; then from her simple sheep, 

Forth to the conflict and the battle's harm 
She went like one awaking from a sleep. 

Ah! when the flames rolled round her in the mart, 
And cruel faces wavered through the haze 

Of her fierce martyrdom, — when on her heart 
Thronged the swift memories of other days, — 

Perchance no thought of royal pomp and pride. 
No thought of armies, nor of iron war's 

Torn fields, nor of the men who fought and died, 
Nor yet of stony cells nor prison bars, — 

No thought of these was hers; but on her ears 
Faint sounds of sheep-bells smote, as in a dream. 

And a fair vision glimmered through her tears — 
Her father's cottage by a quiet stream. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 49 



UNDISCOVERED. 

If we had but eyes to see 

What beside our path may be — 

The frail life that, to and fro, 

O'er the mossy highways go — 

Elfin things that, unafraid, 

Scramble up a grassy blade. 

Or in grottoes dim and small 

Echoes wake with freakish call — 

From new founts of happiness 

We should quaff the streams that bless. 

Joy the springing flowers feel 
When the rain-clouds o'er them wheel- 
How the curving rushes thrill 
At the kisses of the rill — 
How the leaves, when winds blow free. 
Clap their tiny hands in glee — 
All the gladness, pure and fine, 
At our feet we should divine, 
If we had but eyes to see 
What beside our path may be. 

If we had but ears to hear 
The small voices, sweet and clear. 
That ne'er cease by day or night, 
The rude sounds which now affright 



50 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Would be hushed, while o'er the soul 
Silver symphonies would roll 
Like a tide, and sweep away 
Noises of the mart's wild fray. 
No more should our sleep be vexed, 
Nor our waking be perplexed; 
But an endless music beat 
From the dust beneath our feet, 
If we had but ears to hear 
Nature's voices, sweet and clear. 

Had we hearts to understand, 
We should learn that, nigh at hand. 
Magic springs of bliss upwell. 
And from many a secret cell 
Nature yields to earnest quest 
Sovereign balm for man's unrest. 
Love that never seems to be. 
Peace that ever seems to flee, 
Joy that masks a sunny face, 
Have their hidden dwelling-place. 
Not beyond the vaulted skies. 
But beneath our purblind eyes. 
And beside our very hand. 
Had we hearts to understand. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 51 



HEALING NATURE. 

"Lift up your eyes and look upon the fields " 
That laugh with flowers and, where the yellow 

grain 
Stands thickest, billow like the billowing sea. 
There slides a stream that, like a silver blade, 
Curves westward, and beyond the mossy bridge 
An azure pool lies smiling at the sky, 
Its bosom set with lilies as with stars. 
The heavy mantle of the cool dark wood 
Is scarcely ruffled by the idle breeze, 
That touches here and there a swaying leaf, 
And then is gone. The songs of myriad birds 
Patter among the leaves, and slant like rain 
Athwart the sparkling air. In piney dells, 
A thousand censers, swung by unseen hands. 
Send up their fragrance till the senses thrill. 
And the blood leaps with every happy breath. 
Come forth, O hopeless toiler! leave thy tasks; 
Leave thy heartsickness, and the weary weight 
Of thy dull cares; lo! get thee to the fields. 
Where thou mayst lay thy forehead on the breast 
Of healing nature. Thou art tired; come 
And rest; draw into all thy veins the health. 
The sweetness and the fullness of the life 
That throbs in earth, in sky, in sea and air. 



52 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



ON THE WHEEL. 

How fair they lie! — the circling hills, 
Down whose green slopes the summer spills 
Her lavish wealth of sun and rain, 
Of light and dew. Along the plain, 
The errant spice-winds, breathing balm 
And scent of southern pine and palm, 
Whisper amid the rustling corn 
That shakes its plumes beneath the morn. 
Through grassy closes, clear and bright 
The brooks dance in the misty light. 
And one blithe bird, loud caroling. 
Dips in the flood a glancing wing. 
The flowers that bloom beside the way, 
The glistening hedge, the thorny spray, 
And myriad beaded blades of grass 
Sparkle with diamonds as we pass. 
Hark! from the field the farmer's song, 
And answering echoes, sweet and long, 
Redouble round the emerald vale, 
Till o'er the wold they faint and fail. 
Still as we pass on noiseless wheels. 
The changing landscape glows and reels; 
The flaming sun, high and more high, 
Mounts up the cloudless summer sky; 
We catch the shouts of lads at play 
Amid the fragrant new-mown hay. 
And sounds of shrill-voiced grigs that sing, 
And whetted scythes that cheerly ring. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 53 

Through many a shifting scene we flash; 

We hear the busy mill-wheel dash; 

We hear the shaft that creaks and groans, 

The ceaseless whirring of the stones; 

Then on we fare; the clattering mill 

Is left behind, and all is still. 

Ay, all is still; high noon o'erhead 

A poppied influence hath shed; 

The very insects cease to hum. 

And all the breathless world is dumb. 

Still on with noiseless wheels we go, 
Till in the west the sun dips low — 
Till whip-poor-wills begin to call, 
And o'er the fields slim shadows fall. 
Along our way the midges spin; 
Hushed is the day's melodious din. 
While piping voices, far and near, 
With sweet lamenting vex the ear. 
The forest aisles are still and dark, 
Save where the firefly lights his spark; 
And o'er the marish by the way 
A mist is rising, ghostly gray. 
Now softly glows the evening star 
Above us; we have ridden far. 
And night is come; a sound of bells, 
Like sudden music, sinks and swells 
In yonder vale, and through the night 
A lamp shines like a beacon-light. 
Ah, happy inn! ah, happy guest! 
How sweet is night! how sweet is rest! 



54 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



AN INCOMPLETE ANGLER. 

The bearded grass sways to and fro, 

As o'er the fields light zephyrs go; 

The reeds nod by the river's brink, 

Where birds come down to lave and drink. 

Upon the wave the lilies ride; 

The trailing vines dip in the tide, 

And countless frogs, screened in the sedge. 

Boom all along the water's edge. 

Here, where the shadows round me wait, 

I'll sit and cast my luring bait. 

Above my leafy canopy, 

The summer clouds float dreamily; 

The sun, high o'er the cool dark wood, 

Smiles down upon the twinkling flood; 

The busy insects round me hum; 

The stealthy herons go and come; 

A butterfly, with gorgeous wings, 

To yon tall flag one moment clings. 

Then with a sidewise wavering flight. 

Rises and flutters out of sight. 

Still I my luckless victim bide; 

I watch where frolic sunbeams hide 

Deep in the bosom of the stream; 

I see his burnished armor gleam. 

As round and round the tempting fly 

He circles oft and warily. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 55 

Why should a fish refuse to dine 

From such a dainty hook as mine ? 

I'll wait and watch him yet. Ah me! 

The day is warm. How drowsily 

The flies drone near! The river flows 

Like sluggish Lethe; I shall doze 

If nature thus my senses steep 

In languor— but . . I . . must . . not . . sleep. 

Old fellow, are you waiting yet 
To taste my hook? . . The grass is wet! 
How now — the dew is faUing? No! . . 
Yes, in the west the sun is low, 
And shadows He around me deep; 
It must be that I dropped asleep. 

Isaak Walton — honored ghost! — 
Didst e'er thus slumber at thy post? 
But see, the fireflies round me flit! 

1 wonder if that rascal bit: 

The hook is gone! . . and snell gone too! 
There's nothing further left to do, 
But meekly wind my idle reel. 
And homeward fare with empty creel. 



56 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



THE WORLD'S WAY. 

At morn I heard them say: 

** Beware of him; some day 

He will abuse thy trust; 

Then in the common dust 

Thine idol shall be cast. 

Beware of him; at last, 

Who knows but he may turn and rend, 

Brute-like, the hand of his best friend ? " 

At eve I heard them say 

Where calm the dead man lay: 

"Alas! we shall not see 

His like again; for he. 

True to the very end. 

Did ne'er betray a friend." 

Thus low they spake beside the dead, 

Nor thought what they at morn had said. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 57 



THE TWO PATHS. 

There are two ways which, every morning-tide, 
Before the hurrying feet of men divide: 
Along one path the pleasant light is shed; 
The birds sing gaily; smiling skies o'erspread 
The happy earth, and the sweet air is rife 
With myriad throbbing sounds of busy life. 
About the other path the mists hang low, 
And darkness gathers o'er it, deep and slow; 
From unseen valleys sweeps an icy breath, 
And whoso walks there, treads the way of death. 
Two paths there be — one wherein fareth life, 
With patient weariness and honest strife; 
And one where labor finds its sure surcease. 
And haunting voices ever murmur " Peace." 
Go wheresoe'er thou wilt, or east or west, 
Two paths there be — who knoweth which is best ? 



58 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



AN OLD-FASHIONED GIRL. 

Old-fashioned ? Yes, I must confess 

The antique pattern of her dress, 

The ancient frills and furbelows, 

The faded ribbons and the bows. 

Why she should show those shrunken charms, 

That wrinkled neck, those tawny arms, 

I cannot guess; her russet gown 

Round her spare form hangs loosely down; 

Her voice is thin and cracked; her eye 

And smile have lost their witchery. 

By those faint jests, that flagging wit, 

By each attenuated curl, 
She surely is, I must admit, 

An odd, old-fashioned girl. 

'Tis long, long since she had a beau, 
And now with those who sit a-row 
Along the wall she takes her place, 
With something of the old-time grace. 
She yearns to join the mazy waltz, 
And slyly sniffs her smelling-salts. 
Ah, many an angel in disguise 
May walk before our human eyes! 
Where'er the fever smitten Ue 
In grimy haunts of poverty, 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 59 

Along the dark and squalid street, 
'Mid drunken jests of boor and churl, 

She goes with swift and pitying feet — 
This same old-fashioned girl. 



6o AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



LILAC BLOSSOMS. 

So long — ah, so long ago! 

But the world is not so fair, 
And never such bland south winds will blow. 

Nor such lilacs scent the air. 
As in those old sweet days 

When the feet of the luminous hours 
Sped swiftly down the grassy ways, 

And the meadows laughed with flowers. 

Her eyes were clear as the mom; 

Her hair, like a golden net. 
Had meshed the light; and the pink-white thorn. 

Or the slender violet 
Plashed with the crystal drops of rain. 

Was not so fresh as she; — 
With the green young spring she comes again 

Like a fragrant memory. 

O lilacs heavy with dew, 

Thy delicate purple plumes 
Bring back the days when life was new, 

And the lanes were fringed with blooms; 
When the skies bent down with peace, 

And the earth with music thrilled — 
When it seemed love's song would never cease. 

And youth's glad heart was filled. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 6i 



LOVE'S SORCERY. 

Wheresoe'er thou goest, Sweet, 
Peace shall go before thy feet; 
Forth shall gush the song of bird, 
And the blossoms, faintly stirred. 
Shall breathe incense, fine and rare. 
On the love-enchanted air. 
Round thy pathway, for thy sake, 
From the ground a light shall break, 
And thy footsteps shall be set 
With the mint and violet. 
Greener hills shall slope away 
Where the mild-eyed cattle stray; 
Fairer skies shall arch thee o'er 
Than the world hath known before. 
Not a fear shall shake thy heart; 
Spent shall be Grief's venomed dart 
Ere it reach thee; thou shalt go 
Where life's crystal fountains flow. 
For a wizard, wondrous wise. 
Round thee weaves his sorceries. 
And the earth shall changed be 
By his sovereign alchemy. 
Thou to nature shalt be dear; 
Subtlest music thou shalt hear 
In the sounds of gurgling springs, 
And the faery chime that rings 



62 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Where the grasses, cool and wet, 
Screen the glimmering rivulet. 
Thou shalt hear, o'er pleasant leas. 
Slumberous murmurings of the bees, 
And the grasshopper's shrill tune. 
Through the long bright afternoon. 
Night shall bring thee healing dews; 
And the viewless hand that strews 
Precious balm of Paradise 
On the flowers' closed eyes, 
Shall with silken touches woo 
Thee Sleep's rosy portals through. 

Howsoe'er the seasons fleet, 
Kindly stars shall o'er thee meet; 
Love shall minister to thee. 
And thy life shall charmed be. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 63 



MINE ADVERSARY. 

Thou mine adversary art, 
Thou, love, that with ruthless dart 
Didst so sorely wound my breast. 
Lo! thou earnest as a guest. 
And as such I welcomed thee 
To my hospitality. 
My poor roof I bade thee share, 
Bade thee taste my frugal fare — 
Amber honey, wine and bread; 
And when thou hadst supped, I led 
Thee to my warm ingle-nook, 
Cheering thee with song and book. 
Thou my welcome didst betray; 
Thou my kindness didst repay, 
Caitiff-like, with swift despite; 
For, in silence of the night. 
When the darkness was most deep, 
And the world was hushed in sleep. 
Thou didst rise to do me wrong; 
Thou didst bind me fast and strong. 
And while thus I helpless lay. 
Thou didst steal my peace away, 
Thou didst rob me of my joy. 
Thou didst make my heart thy toy — 
As a target for thy skill. 
Thou didst pierce it at thy will; 

£ 



64 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

And whene'er I prayed to thee, 
Thou didst mock my misery. 
Now I have escaped thy hands; 
Sundered are thy silken bands; 
Thou shalt never vex me more — 
Lo! I spurn thee from my door. 
Pass! henceforth I'll none of thee; 
Let thy ways be far from me; 
For howe'er the years may go, 
Thou shalt be my dearest foe. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 65 



NOT IN VAIN. 

Away from the haunts of men, from the feverish, 
godless strife 
Waged in the noisy marts, I fled to the templed 
wood; 
My eyes were dim with tears, I was sick of the 
cheat called "life," 
And the venom of hatred swept like flame 
through all my blood. 

Where the gloom of the wood was deepest I cast 
me prone on the ground. 
And covered my face from the day, and wished 
it were all at an end. 
When suddenly up from the earth, like the beating 
of hearts, came a sound. 
And over me, patient and pure I saw a violet 
bend. 

And my anger that fiercely smoked was quenched 
as I gazed on the flower; 
I knew that God was near, though veiled was 
His luminous form; 
And down on my troubled heart fell the healing 
dew of His power. 
And I learned that our lives not in vain are 
bowed like reeds in the storm. 



66 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



IT SHALL BE KNOWN. 

Over and oyer I con it, and over and over again, 
But somehow I cannot learn it — the meaning is not 

plain. 
Yet surely I some time shall know how, out of the 

darkened past, 
And out of the shrouded future, light shall be 

gathered at last. 
Is it better indeed to have loved, though it be to have 

loved and lost ? 
Answer, ye who have been caught, and harried, and 

wildly tossed 
In the palms of a fickle chance, till the years are 

well-nigh done. 
And the grief and passion are spent, and the half 

of life is gone. 
O riddle too hard to read! O arid and wasted years! 
O thoughts that deepen and deepen beyond the 

touch of tears! 
For the watching, remembering and waiting, for the 

hungering of the heart. 
For the soul's ineffectual crying, and for the bitter 

smart 
Of pain returning-daily, shall there not come, some- 
where, 
A recompense, a guerdon, an answer to the prayer 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 67 

Of faith that strives and wrestles? Ah yes! the 

lesson old 
Shall be learned at last— the riddle shall be forever 

told. 



68 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS, 



THE CAGED BIRD. 

O SOUL, fret not against thy bars; 

Thou art a caged and weary thing; 
Above thee calmly wheel the stars 

And night's vast psalm forever sing. 

Sing thou, nor let the dying light, 
Nor trooping shadows, dim and long, 

Nor ghostly mists that veil thy sight, 
Affray thy faith, and hush thy song. 

The twilight deepens — be at rest; 

Now fold thy bruised and drooping wing; 
And till at length this prisoning breast 

Shall burst and free thee, bravely sing. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 69 



A SONG OF THE HILLS. 

Fronting the wide-browed east they stand; 
Slowly beneath God's mighty hand 
They rose and took their shape; the dews 
Distill upon them; heavenly blues, 

And rainbow purples, from which lean the stars. 

Lightly o'erarch them; down their rugged scars 
Pour balms of dark and light. 
How fair the sight 
Of cliff and glen, of oak and pine, 
And ever-upward clambering vine, 
And long green sweep of brambly slope! 
Where slanting sunbeams shyly grope 
Through leafy screens, along its bed 

Of moss, 'twixt gnarled roots, with stealthy tread 
The cold stream seeks the vale. 
Here, while the heavens yet are pale. 
On her wide altars morning burns 
Her mystic incense: through the ferns, 
And flowers, and creepers, and thick boughs. 

Old Nature's truest devotees 

Send up their matin vows 
And vesper harmonies. 
Day after day. 
From every dew-plashed spray. 

From blooms where linger long the plundering bees. 
From frail herbs crushed by careless feet. 
And buds scarce breathed on by the breeze, 
Exhale rare odors, fine and fleet. 



70 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Here, where the night and the morn first meet, 
Are myriad melodies, wonderful, sweet. 
Hark! how the heart of the dawn doth beat! 
Whisperings, stirrings, rustling of wings. 
Sounds like swift fingers swept o'er a harp's strings — 
Sounds shot with silence, with silence that groweth, 
That round through the aisles and the dim arches 

floweth 
Like a stream lapping low, laughing loud 'mid the 
grasses; 

Till suddenly passes 
A spirit that hushes one instant the breath 
Of the earth and the sky to the stillness of death — 
One instant a pause in the pulse of the dawn, — 
One instant the joy of awaking withdrawn. 

O moment supreme 

'Twixt waking and dream, 

'Twixt longing intense 

And throbbing suspense! 
But listen! the liquid, soft note of a bird 
Wakes the world from its spell, then another is heard, 
Till lo, with a crash, from the sky and the ground 
Bursteth a tempest of musical sound! 

O fear, thou hast fled! 

Thou, silence, art dead! 
Thou, joy, hast awaked from the thralldom of sleep, 
And the dark tides of sorrow are turned back to the 
deep. 

Lay thine ear to the earth. 
And harken what mirth 
Through fairy-land riots, because of the birth 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 71 

Each moment of flowers and fair green things, 
And the mystic unseaHng of magical springs 

In the heart of the hills! 

What rapture thrills 
Through the roots and stems of the braided weeds, 
And quivers and shivers amid the reeds 

That watch by the streams, 

Because from their dreams 
In the womb of the dark have been wakened to light 
The souls of new plants to people the height. 

Here trade shall not come, 

And the voice shall be dumb 
Of hard-hearted Thrift; yea, even the stroke 
Of the ax that is laid to the root of the oak 
Shall sound muffled and far: 

For barter and gain 

Belong to the plain. 

And there they shall bide, 

Whatever betide. 
Here the wheels cannot jar 
Of commerce that thunders and shrieks on its way, 
But the tremulous shadows fantastically play 
Through bickering leaves, and small black eyes 
Twinkle from glooms where the dewberry lies. 
And the garrulous squirrel, and the finch, and the jay 
Gossip the fleet-footed summer away. 
And here from the pearled fields of morn, 
On the viewless wings of the winds are borne 
Perfumes sweeter than nard or myrrh. 
O pungent fragrance of pine and fir! 



72 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

What delicate scents from the indolent east, 
That are shed for the Sultan, as he sits at his feast. 
Can vie with the balsam's resinous breath 
To quench in the blood the fierce fever of death ? 

Hark! while the dusk's pale curtain falls, 
Across the dim, gray upland calls 
The twilight-loving whip-poor-will. 
O night, brood softly o'er the hill! 
Fair night, your vast star-spaces fill 
With tender lights that shall not wane 
Till mom shall wake the world again. 
Thus in the shadow of God's hand, 
While o'er the sky the dark is fanned. 
Upon the hill-top let me stand. 
How near is heaven! how near each star! 
The noisy world how far! how far! 
O soul, for flight thy wings expand; 
Look yonder to the promised land; 
From such a height, with fond desire. 
Ere from the earth, in clouds of fire. 
The ancient seer was rapt away, 
He looked and saw the starry dome 
And kindled glories of God's home. 

Nor wished to stay. 
O height! O height! thrice blessed height! 
Upon thee calmly rest the night. 
And sweetly break the morning's light 

Above thee; 
He who would flee the world's vain strife, 
And find a larger, nobler life. 

Must love thee. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 73 



THE KING IS DYING. 

Fool, stand back, the king is dying, 

Give him what Uttle air remains; 
See'st thou not how his pulse is flying ? 

Hear'st thou not how he gasps and strains 
To catch one other stertorous breath ? 
God! how he labors! yes, this is death! 

Blow up the fire — his feet are cold; 

Ay, though a king, he cannot buy 
One briefest moment with all his gold ; 

His hour has come, and he must die; 
Withered and wrinkled, and old and gray. 
The king fares out on the common way. 

Light the tapers; he's almost gone; 

Stir, thou fool, 'tis past the hour 
To cower and cringe, and flatter and fawn — 

The thing lying there is shorn of power; 
Henceforth the lips of the king are dumb: 
Bring up thy ghostly viaticum. 

Absolve his soul; need enough, God wot! 

Mumble and sprinkle and do thy shriving; 
Yet, methinks, here and there shall be left a blot, 

Hideously foul, despite thy striving; 
Nor purfled quilts, nor pillows of lace, 
Can relieve the guilt in that grim old face. 



74 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Soft! stand back — it is his last; 

Get hence, thy priestly craft is o'er; 
For him the pomp of the world is past — 

The king that was, is king no more: 
Let the bells be rung, let the mass be said, 
And the king's heir know that the king is dead. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 75 



GUILELESS EYES. 

As WITHIN a crystal well, 
In her eyes the sunrays dwell; 
'Mid their clear, pellucid deeps. 
Her untroubled spirit sleeps. 
Though the world's wild tempests blow, 
Calmly mirrored, far below. 
The unwavering image lies 
Of the far, o'erarching skies. 
There the happy dreams of youth, 
Thoughts of purity and truth. 
Maiden visions of delight, 
Girlhood memories, golden-bright, 
That within her soul are born. 
Linger like the smiles of morn. 
Guileless eyes! O may the years 
Dim them not with grief and tears. 
May no breath of sin and dole 
Mar those mirrors of her soul; 
There, as in a crystal well. 
May her peaceful spirit dwell. 



76 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



AT BETHLEHEM. 

The Syrian stars are burning low; 

The winds are laid, the night is still; 
The waking shepherd paces slow 

About his sheep-cote on the hill; 
And oft he turns to watch the skies 
With wistful, dim, sleep-burdened eyes. 

Still closer creep the huddled flocks 
Within the shelter of the fold; 

The hoar-frost whitens on the rocks, 
The thin grass stiffens with the cold; 

Still slowly, o'er the shadowy ground, 

The shepherd foots his weary round. 

Hist! over Bethlehem's sleeping town 
What sudden strains outleap and swell ? 

Behold! a star sinks slowly down 
And glows above one lowly cell 

Where lies a mother, wan and pale. 

Hushing her new-born Infant's wail. 

Lo! far along the flashing cope 
Gleam angel forms with folded wings; 

A strange light silvers every slope. 
And through the vault of heaven rings 

This song, again and yet again, 

"On earth be peace, good will to men." 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 77 

O tired mother, take thy rest! 

O Judah's hills, awake and shout! 
And from the east and from the west 

Let voices of the vales break out, 
To hail the Babe whose feet shall press 
The world's dark ways to save and bless. 



78 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



MIDNIGHT AT BETHLEHEM. 

Ah, silent the sleeping hills! 

Silent the large cool night! 
Far eastward, where the morn first spills 

Its fires, a little light 
Kindles athwart the dark. 
Through heaven's blue concave, hark! 
'Mid star-sprent spaces vast and dim 
Rolls a majestic hymn. 
Lapping like waves on cloud-coasts pale; 
Yet through the music breaks a Babe's low wail — 
A Babe that cradled in a manger lies 
Where horned oxen stare with patient eyes. 
But lo! yon eastward flame streams up apace; 
And now, behold! above the lowly place 
Where weeps the Babe, a clear orb burns, 
And all the stooping heaven j'^earns, 
While travelers come from far. 
Led onward by the ever-moving star, 
Till in that humble stall they wondering meet, 
And bow with gifts before the Christ-Child's feet. 
O clap your hands, ye hills! be glad, ye skies! 
O longed-for Splendor, dawn and bless the eyes 
Of weary watchers waiting in the night 
The coming of the true and only Light. 
Loud and more loud, ye spheres, the anthem swell! 
To hail Immanuel 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 79 

Let midnight doff her starry diadem, 
And welcome now the Babe of Bethlehem. 

Ah, stupid eyes close sealed in selfish sleep! 

Ah, stolid ears long dulled with slumber deep! 

Ye ne'er may know again 

A night like this; the star begins to wane 

Already, and the chorus of the skies 

Withdraws far up the azure cope and dies. 

The morn shall break, as it hath done before, 

For you, but never, never more 

Such wonders shall be known. 

E'en now the night is o'er; 

Behold! the King hath come unto his own. 



So AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



THE COMING OF THE KING. 

The darkness folds the sleeping world; 

The stars are quiet in the skies; 
The low moon, like a feather curled, 

Upon the faint horizon lies. 

About his sheep-cote on the hill 
The weary shepherd paces slow; 

Within, the huddled flock is still; 
Without, the frost-winds shrewdly blow. 

Ah, breathless hour of hopes and fears! 

Hark! through the solemn midnight hush, 
From myriad sudden-brightening spheres, 

A million quiring voices rush. 

Yea, sing, ye trembling morning stars! 

With music break the awful spell; 
O Phosphor, burst your radiant bars. 

And burn o'er Bethlehem's lowly cell! 

But list! above cherubic hymn. 
More clear than anthem of the sky, 

Up from yon stable rude and dim 
Quavers an Infant's feeble cry. 

O earth, be glad, thine hour hath come! 

O happy winds, the tidings tell! 
Clap all your hands, ye forests dumb! 

Ye mountains, hail Immanuel! 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 81 

Now shall the ways of men be blest; 

Now from the world shall lift the night; 
From north to south, from east to west, 

Shall stream the ever-growing light. 

Let every sound of sorrow cease, 
And Eden's songs be heard again; 

O'er all the earth henceforth be peace, 
And evermore good will to men. 



82 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



IN THE STORM. 

Lord, now the light hath vanished, be Thou near; 
Within the awful darkness may we hear 
The reassuring words that Thou dost speak 
Across the swelling waters. We are weak; 
Still at the laboring oars we toil and strain, 
And thro' the waste, void night we peer in vain 
For any beacon. Every star hath fled, 
And the hoarse thunder bellows overhead; 
Our shuddering craft is driven to and fro, 
As the fierce billows smite it, blow on blow; 
The tempest o'er us loud and louder raves, 
Beneath us wider yawn the gulfing waves. 
O be Thou near! Lift up Thy voice of peace, 
And bid the elemental conflict cease; 
Disperse the shadows from the shrouded skies, 
And bless with morning light our longing eyes! 
Across the angry surges send Thy word; 
O speak and save us, or we perish, Lord. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 83 



RISEN. 

Ere yet the shadowy mountain tops 

Were silvered with the light, 
Or off the lilies slipped the drops 

Won from the dewy night; 
Ere yet the morning's incense curled 

O'er glimmering Galilee, 
The grave had yielded to the world 

Its awful mystery. 

Through all the night the pallid stars 

Watched trembling o'er the tomb, 
And Olivet wrapped all its scars 

Deep in the fragrant gloom; 
The world one instant held its breath, 

When from the flashing heaven 
God's angel swept, more strong than death, 

And death's dark bonds were riven. 

Forth from the sepulcher's embrace 

Behold the Conqueror come! 
O morning sun, unveil thy face! 

O earth, no more be dumb! 
From century to century 

The paean now shall ring — 
O grave, where is thy victory ? 

O death, where is thy sting ? 



84 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



THE CHILD THAT WAS. 

Where is the child that used to be, 

That knew the small folk of the lea, 

That saw them frisk in the dew-wet grass, 

And heard them pipe when the wind did pass; 

That knew what the nodding daisies said, 

And why the trefoil hung its head, 

And marked how the violets, purple-sweet, 

Whispered love at his happy feet; 

That caught the inarticulate words 

Trolled by the summer-haunting birds, 

In meadow nooks where dusty bees 

Flitted on honeyed embassies, 

While drowsily their deep bassoon 

Chimed with the fountain's silver tune; 

The child to whom night brought the slow. 

Large, yellow planets burning low. 

And dawn, a world most fair to see, — 

Ah, where is the child that used to be ? 

Fled, alas! with the vanished morns. 

With the wind's glad songs and the elfin's horns; 

Fled forever and ever away, 

While a care-worn man keeps watch to-day, 

With wistful face and tear-dimmed eyes. 

Above the tomb where his childhood lies. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 85 



BYLO-LAND. 

What do they do in Bylo-land, 
Silvery, shadowy Bylo-land ? 

They swing no bat, they fly no kite; 

The tattered dolls are forgotten quite; 

But out through the gates of the City of Night 

The little ones glide in garments white 
To beautiful Bylo-land. 

What do they hear in Bylo-land, 
Glimmering, mystical Bylo-land ? 

Ah, little ears hear wonderful things: 

Snatches of song that mother sings 

When the light sinks low, and the rocker swings; 

And lullaby sounds from hidden springs 
In the hills of Bylo-land. 

How win them back from Bylo-land, 

Magical, emerald Bylo-land ? 
When the last faint star in heaven dies, 
And the dusk grows wan where the mountains rise. 
When the great sun climbs the yellow skies, 
Then mother's kisses on drowsy eyes 

Woo back from Bylo-land. 



86 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



SANBENETTO. 

And will ye clothe us thus in shame ? 

Think ye the scarlet vestures meet ? 
Shall they not perish in the flame 

That shall be kindled at our feet ? 

Yea, shall these hateful robes withstand 
The fiery floods that, high and higher. 

Shall round us roll, as with fierce hand 
Ye thrust the roaring fagots nigher ? 

Or, who shall say that — while ye cry 

** Down, Antichrist! " and mock the sight 

Of our last sufferings — as we die, 
These may not change to robes of light ? 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 87 



SONG FOR THE SLAIN. 

Lift and drift, O mists, away; 
River, sing amid thy reeds; 

Break, O silver light of day, 
And across the dewy meads 
On the grasses and the weeds 

Make their million jewels gleam; 

Tip the waves on every stream 
With thy swift and sudden fire, 

And, where leaves of forests dream, 
Strike the wind's invisible lyre, 
Wake the morning's winged choir, 

Till the raptured earth shall be 

Drenched with showers of melody. 

O how good it is to live! 

O how sweet this vital breath! 
Precious are the days that give 

Warm release from winter's death, 
Till'with every bud set free 
On the south-kissed shrub and tree, 

And with every springing flower 

Fed by April sun and shower, 
In our own hearts blossom fair 
Hopes we never knew were there. 

Still our joy is mixed with pain 
For the faces that are fled — 



88 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

O the spring breathes all in vain 
O'er the barrows of our dead! 
They shall never waken more 
To the battle's sullen roar, 
To the smoke and lurid flash, 
To the frenzied shout and clash. 
'Round them never shall again 
Tides of combat sweep the plain. 
Whistling shot and screaming shell; 
Flames that seem to leap from hell; 
Gory hoofs of many a steed 
Trampling wounded men who plea4. 
Shriek, and pray while none take heed; 
Muddy streams whose waters flow 
Bloody-dark, and thick and slow; 
Upturned faces here and there. 
Bearded, bronzed, or young and fair, 
Now grown strangely still and white 
While around them swells the fight; 
Tattered flags and scattered arms; 
Fleeing men whom vague alarms, 
Seizing in the conflict's surge, 
To some hidden refuge urge — 
From such scenes their eyes are sealed; 
Death hath won and holds the field. 

Never shall the bugle-sound 

Call them from their sleep profound, 

To behold with smoke-dimmed eyes 

How a comrade falls and dies, 

Smitten by the leaden hail. 

Or the cannon's iron flail. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS, 89 

From the cheerful bivouac fires; 
From home-songs and home-desires; 
From the dark and silent camp; 
From the night-mists, chill and damp; 
From soft dreams of child and wife — 
Of the old and happy life — 
Of the pasture-lands of home 
Where the tranquil cattle roam — 
Of the brawling brook where played 
Barefoot urchins in the shade — 
Of the dear, mild mother's face 
That bent o'er them in the place 
Where their childish prayers were said 
When the joyous day had fled — 
Of the maid whose timid eyes 
Smiled through tears her fond replies 
To the questions old and sweet, 
While the blossoms at her feet 
(Fragrant still in memory) 
Were not half so fair as she — 
From such dreams they shall not start, 
With fierce tuggings at the heart, 
Still the weary march to share, 
Or into the battle's blare 
With a wild and nameless pain 
Go to slay and to be slain. 

Let them rest where nodding clover 
Covers husband, friend and lover, 
Where the long cool grass leans over. 

And the stars their watches keep; 
Where with drowsy murmurings 



90 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS, 

Haunt the bees with tireless wings; 
Where all night the cricket sings, 
Let them sleep. 

No more shall the loud alarms 

From their grassy tents on the hill 
Summon the sleepers to arms; 

But the sunshine, warm and still. 
Shall sift through the fronded palm, 

From the blue-domed southern sky, 
To nestle through hours of calm 

O'er the sod where the brave ones lie, 
Unknown in their narrow bed, 
Asleep with the world's great dead. 

And O, bend low, ye North's pale skies. 

O'er many a humble stone 
That marks where some true man lies 

Till the angel's trump be blown; 
To-day as in love bend low! 

Soft be the suns and the showers, 
And hght be the winds that blow, 

Over these heroes of ours. 

Ah! Memory, let the world forget 

Her deeds of darkness and of shame, 
But while the sun shall rise and set, 

A thousand thousand years the same, 
Keep bright the glory and renown 

Of those who fought by land and sea, 
Brave men who laid their brave lives down, 

That man might still be free. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 9 1 

Ye widowed hearts, your bitter tears 
Through all the long and lonely years 
God hath regarded, for He hears 

The troubled when they cry; 
Your loss becomes the world's rich gain; 
Henceforth above your noble slain 
The seed once sown in tears and pain 

Shall bloom in liberty. 



92 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



OMAR KHAYYAM. 

Ah, shed long since the roses that he knew, 
And fled the perfume and the morning dew; 

And dead the vine from out whose purple fruit 
Refreshment for his fading life he drew. 

As when some awkward slave lets fall the shape 
Of clay she bears, and through the rents agape 
The precious liquid pours, so careless Death 
Broke the frail jar and let his soul escape. 

Along the garden where his feet did pass, 
The steps of aliens bruise the springing grass; 

And not one careless eye hath noted how 
Still on the turf lies an inverted glass. 

There at dim nightfall, when the moon is pale. 
Within the laurel sings the nightingale; 
And through the gathering darkness, from the 
ground. 
Elusive breaths of fragrant wine exhale. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 93 



JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING. 

Pretty Annie Atherton (why is her face so pale ?) 
Stands on the rocky headland yonder, watching for 

a sail; 
The sky is gray and lowering, all night the wind has 

blown. 
And round the dreary shore the breakers moan, and 

moan, and moan. 

She has not slept through all the hours — her heart 

has ached with fears. 
And in her lonely chamber she has sat, and through 

her tears 
Has watched for tardy dawn to light at last the 

darkened east; 
And now the morn is come, and still the tempest 

has not ceased. 

'Twas yestereve she lightly laughed and said a blithe 

"good-bye" — 
The wind was soft, the sea was calm, and cloudless 

was the sky; 
Ah, how the storm-rack suddenly drave o'er the 

shuddering sea! 
God pity those brave toilers now, wherever they 

may be! 



94 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Pretty Annie Atherton — she heeds not how her hair 
Is rudely tossed and tangled on the gusty headland 

there; 
She heeds not how the salt wind smites, nor how her 

gown is blown; 
She only hears the cruel breakers moan, and moan, 

and moan. 

O'er all the deep the white-caps leap: "O love," 

her brave heart cries, 
"I wait thee as I promised thee " — the wind alone 

replies; 
Yet see! a sudden sail speeds up the offing, dim and 

gray— 
O'er all the deep the white-caps leap — alas! 'tis 

flying spray. 

Pretty Annie Atherton — her eyes with mist are blind; 
The breakers moan — she does not hear the swift, 

light step behind; 
He nearer draws — the wind is harsh, and heavy are 

her ears; 
Now fold and hold her close, strong arms — love, kiss 

away love's fears. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 95 



ESTRANGED. 

They met, and all the world was fair; 
Fair, too, were they, as any pair 

Of birds of paradise; 
They met, and never meant to part, 
But oh! time chills the warmest heart, 

And dims the brightest eyes. 

They met, and love betwixt them born. 
From morn to dark, from dark to morn, 

Walked with them through the land; 
O, blithely sped the singing hours, 
Till, lured to pluck the star-eyed flowers, 

Each loosed the other's hand. 

Then love took flight with sudden fright, 
And now they wander through the night. 

Blind with their helpless tears; 
They grope amid the thorns and sand, 
But cannot touch each other's hand 

Through all the lonely years. 



96 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



A HUNDRED YEARS. 

She stands beside the sylvan stream, 
The chief's one daughter, lithe and fair, 

And, as she stands, a last late gleam 
Of light lies tangled in her hair. 

The boughs droop down above her face. 
The grasses kiss her naked feet, 

And one tall reed leans from its place, 
To touch her bosom warm and sweet. 

Behind her lies the quiet camp. 
Before her the calm waters flow. 

She sees the firefly light its lamp. 
She hears the night-wind, faint and low. 

The sunset dies upon the hill. 
The valley fades in deepening gloom, 

But where she stands, her presence still 
Sheds on the shadows light and bloom. 

She looks away into the west. 

Her eyes brim o'er with happy light, 

A song upbubbles from her breast. 
She scarcely heeds the falling night. 

But hark! a paddle softly dips; 

A swift hand thrusts the leaves apart; 
The song is hushed upon her lips, 

While sudden tumult shakes her heart. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 97 

For lo! he stands before her now — 
Her lover, young and strong and brave, 

Above whose dark and fearless brow 
The plumes of eagles proudly wave. 

A hated warrior's valiant son, 

Though years of feud have sundered wide 
His sire from hers, has wooed and won 

The dusky maiden for his bride. 

A clinging kiss, a passionate word, 

A lingering, doubtful look behind; 
Low pleadings that are hardly heard, 

And eyes with tears confused and blind. 

Then silent steps that do not pause; 

Then long light dippings of an oar; 
A boat into the darkness draws, 

And fades from sight forevermore — 

Fades and is gone: a hundred years 
Have passed since that dim summer night 

When, half in triumph, half in tears. 
These lovers vanished out of sight. 

And now beside that self-same stream, 
With many a clustering bough above, 

I lie and dream a world-old dream, 
Beneath the eyes of her I love. 



98 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



NORA. 

She stands in the light of the setting sun, 
Till the bright bars vanish, one by one, 

And the stars are hung in the azure dome, 
Like lamps, to guide lost spirits home. 

Thus she has watched through the weary years, 
Through moments of hope and months of tears- 
Watched at twilight pale and gray. 
While ever the slow years crept away — 

Watched and waited for one to come 
Back, over the wide wild prairie, home. 

He went when her cheek was fresh and fair. 
And the sunlight slept in her yellow hair; 

When her eyes were blue, and her lips were red- 
As sweet a bride as was ever wed. 

But now she is old and wrinkled and gray. 
For the years have fretted her beauty away, 

And dim are her eyes that were once so blue, 
Yet her love is loyal, her heart is true. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 99 

So she waits and waits while the sun goes down, 
And over the prairie, naked and brown, 

The shadows come steahng, big and black; 
For he said, "Wait, Nora, till I come back," 

And he passed away through the gathering gloom, 
Away o'er the prairie, rich with bloom — 

Whistling he passed through the deepening dusk, 
Through the twilight sweet with the scent of musk — 

To seek the kine that had gone astray; 
But he never returns by night or day. 

" Ah me! Ah me! " she softly saith, 

While her blue eyes shine with a mystic faith, 

"He seeketh far, he seeketh yet, 

But he will come back, he will not forget." 

So day after day, as the night draws on. 
She stands and waits at her door alone — 

Waits while the sun sinks out of sight. 

And she stands alone with the vast dim night. 

Ah, yes! ah, yes! he hath gone afar. 
For where the tremulous evening star 

Gleams like a gem o'er the heart of the west, 
He fell on sleep, on sleep and rest — 



lOO AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

On sleep that is sweeter than we know here, 
On rest unvexed by hope or fear. 

Above his lowly and lonesome grave, 

The long, strong grass and wild flowers wave, 

And the shadows of morning and evening play, 
While he slumbers the years of her waiting away. 

But lo! one evening when sunset burns, 
And in patient sorrow she waits and j^eams. 

Up from the shadowy earth he shall rise, 
Like an angel of light to her dying eyes. 

And shall touch her hand and say, "Love, come. 
Behold, the dear Christ calls us home;" 

For the ties of love that here are riven, 
God will unite again in Heaven. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. loi 



THE PRESENT. 

What matter we have suffered, dear, and borne 
A thousand pangs, when we are lying low ? 

What matter that we drank the lees of scorn. 
And wept beneath our griefs, as we weep now, 

When from our dust shall spring the matted thorn ? 

What matter, dear, that you and I have kept 

Hearts sweet and tender through ungracious years, 

When in the sepulcher we shall have slept 
A thousand moons, and dried are Memory's tears. 

And Love sings by the tomb where once he wept ? 

I know when we are gone the flowers will bloom. 
And in their seasons leaves will go and come. 

And nesting birds will sing above our tomb; 

But still, what matter? We shall both be dumb. 

And locked in silence and eternal gloom. 

What matter, dear, though spring and summer wane, 
And winter come with chilling sleet and snow, 

Or on our graves the flowers weep in rain. 
Or on our graves the flowers forget to blow. 

What matter, dear ? — we cannot then feel pain. 

Should others love as you and I have loved, 
What matter? — we shall mingle hearts in dust: 



I02 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 

Should others prove, as you and I have proved, 

The faith of men, nor forfeit Heaven's high trust, 
What matter ? — they shall move as we have moved. 

Come, come away! O, now we will not mourn, 
For that which is not; and the past is past; 

Though faded joys shall nevermore return, 
Neither shall faded griefs, the first or last, 

And time's true heir is of the present born. 

O love, what may be shall not cloud the heart, 
Nor steal joy from the present, which is ours; 

Now, now we'll clasp, and laugh at death, nor part, 
But make these, which we have, most golden 
hours, 

And when the Dread Voice calls, together start. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 103 



THE MOHAWK. 

Thou windest down between the hills, 
Past many a gleaming lawn and lea, 

The tribute of a thousand rills 
To bear toward the distant sea. 

'Twixt level fields of wheat and corn, 
By many a cool and quiet wood. 

Past founts where singing streams are born, 
Thou rollest down thy silver flood. 

Within thy wave the shadows play; 

Along thy banks the blossoms bloom; 
And to and fro, through all the day, 

The swallows sweep from sun to gloom. 

Unchanged thy voice; still sweet and low 
Thou murmurest to the leaves and grass. 

And happy winds that o'er thee blow 
And lightly kiss thee as they pass. 

The lordly Hudson waits for thee; 

With throbbing heart and smiling face, 
He greets his bride right royally, 

And folds her in his wide embrace. 

And thus espoused, ye sweetly flow 
Down to the boundless azure sea, 

As loving souls together go 
Into God's vast eternity. 



I04 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



THE OLD STORY. 

Through tangled grass the rill sobbed by, 

We saw eve's red sun glow; 
The peaceful herds were browsing nigh, 

The village slept below. 

A trailing ivy, like a wreath, 

Drooped down upon her hair, 
And she who, blushing, stood beneath 

Knew she was very fair. 

The pomp of the declining day, 

The beauty of the place, 
Around us like a halo lay, 

And shone upon her face. 

We lingered there with many a sigh. 

And many a whispered vow; 
I saw the tear steal from her eye, 

I saw her clouded brow. 

Afar we heard the minster bell; 

Slowly the day went out; 
Then, as the twilight round us fell, 

I told her all my doubt. 

Like sunshine shot through April skies. 
Her smile flashed through her tears, 

And while I dried her beauteous eyes, 
She kissed away my fears. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 105 

O fickle tears! O faithless vows! 

O fond, delusive trust! 
Love weeping goes with hidden brows, 

And wings low in the dust. 



io6 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



QUATRAINS. 

I. 

THE TWO SPIRITS. 

I DREAMED two Spirits Came — one dusk as night: 
** Mortals miscall me Life," he sadly saith; 

The other, with a smile like morning light. 

Flashed his strong wings, and spake, "Men 
name me Death." 

II. 

CAPRICE. 

Ah, lover, marvel not the maid, once kind, 
Should wound thee now with words of sudden 
scorn: 

So shifts from change to change the freakish wind; 
So every rose wears, poniard-like, its thorn. 

III. 

love's paradox. 

She would not stir a single jetty lash 

To hear me praised; but when my life was 
blamed 
Her parian cheeks were kindled like a flash, 

And from her heart a sudden love upflamed. 



AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 107 



IV. 

THE POET. 



The poet is the heir of every clime ; 
He gathers spoil from all the years of time; 
He reads Fate's holograph with vision clear, 
And sees a rainbow smiling in a tear. 



io8 AT THE GATE OF DREAMS. 



NEW LIFE, NEW LOVE. 

Ah, what awaits us when the gUmmering sight 
Is slowly quenched within the gathering night; 
When on the hills the purple shadows fall, 
And lingering darkness hides and covers all — 
New life, new love ? 

Than is the old could new life sweeter be ? 
Than now hath love some rarer ecstacy ? 
Ah, while the day shines, and it grows not late, 
Say not there dwell beyond the night's dark gate 
New life, new love. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 1 1 1 



THE CRICKET. 

Piper of the fields and woods 

And the fragrant soHtudes, 

When the trees are stripped of leaves, 

And the choked brook sobs and grieves; 

When the golden-rod alone 

Feigns the summer hath not flown; 

Then while evening airs grow chill, 

And the flocks upon the hill 

Huddle in the waning light, 

Thou, ere falls the frosty night, 

To the kine that homeward pass 

Pipest 'mid the stiffening grass. 

Dark may dawn the winter days, — 
Where thou art the summer stays; 
Though the ruffian north winds roar, 
Lash the roof and smite the door. 
Thou from hearths secure and warm 
Laughest at the brewing storm, 
And thy merry minstrelsy 
Sets the frozen fancy free. 
Dost thou dream, O piper brave, 
That from his sea-haunted grave 
He who praised thy song of yore 
Hath come back to hear once more, 
Through high noons, thy strident strain 



112 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 

Borne o'er Enna's saffron plain? 
Long, long since the nectared hoard 
That the yellow bees had stored 
In the turf above his head 
Hath, by many a passing tread 
O'er the chamber of his sleep, 
In the dust been trampled deep. 
From his lentisk couch of rest, 
In his shaggy goat-skin vest, 
He shall rise no more to hear, 
With the poet's raptured ear, 
O'er the thymy pastures swell 
Morning sounds he loved so well. 
Other skies are over us. 
And afar Theocritus 
Slumbers deep, O piper small, 
And he will not heed at all 
Though be struck thy shrillest notes; 
Yet a voice like thine still floats 
O'er him where thy shy kin be 
'Mid the dews of Sicily. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 113 



BY THE BROOK. 

O'er it slender osiers lean, 
And its waters purl between 

Banks of moss where violets grow, 
And the wind breathes sweet and low. 

'Mid its rushes minnows hide, 
Or o'er silver shallows glide. 

Pausing oft as if to dream, 

Poised against the wavering stream. 

Here the birds light on the brink, 
Plash their dusty plumes, and drink; 

There where deeper waters run, 
Broad-leaved lilies take the sun. 

By this willow let us lie; 

It may chance that, bye and bye, 

If we watch and make no sound, 
While the midges murmur round, 

We shall see him unafraid 

Stumbling down the sun-flecked glade, 



114 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 

With his goat-hoofs tearing through 
Vines and blossoms wet with dew. 

We shall see his shaggy thighs, 
His puffed cheeks and gloating eyes, 

And his hairy pointed ears. 
Sharper grown with ceaseless fears. 

We shall see him as he stands, 
And with swift and nimble hands, 

From the reed-beds, where they grow. 
Plucks him pipes whereon to blow, 

Notching each with eager skill. 
Tossing each aside, until 

From some slim and hollow shoot 
He shall shape a pipe to suit 

His wild fancy; then the day 
Shall grow dumb to hear him play. 

Hist! behold yon trembling bough; 
It may be Pan cometh now. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 115 



PAN. 

I'll seek him yet: in some warm nook 
He lies asleep beside the brook, 
Drugged by the spicy gales that pass; 
His pipe beside him on the grass 
Lies but half trimmed,— just as it fell 
When sleep cast o'er him her soft spell. 
I'll seek him yet: he does not hear 
The bee that drones beside his ear, 
Half buried in the nectared gloom 
Of some sweet-burdened, purple bloom. 
Above him droop the cooling leaves; 
His shaggy bosom falls and heaves, 
In his deep slumber's quietness; 
He will not hear me, though I press, 
Through woven bough and vine and flower, 
Quite into his sleep-charmed bower. 
Ah me, how soundly he hath slept! 
How well the mossy wood hath kept 
Its secret old! The poppied gales, 
Blown softly by, have told no tales 
Of sleeping Pan, while far astray 
His white flock goes this many a day. 
I'll seek him yet: somewhere he lies 
Well screened from peering human eyes; 
And though his hoof-marks, as I know. 
From mortal sight passed long ago. 



Il6 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 

Still I will tread the sylvan aisles 
And sunny meadows, miles and miles; 
I'll follow hard the dragon-fly, 
As down the stream he circles by; 
I'll track the wild-bee from his home 
To that fair place whence it hath come, 
Where, hoarding still their honeyed store. 
Bloom such rare flowers as starred of yore 
The shining slopes of Arcady. 
So I will seek him yet; ah me! 
Though human foot hath never trod 
The leafy lair where lies the god, 
Who knows but by some happy chance 
I yet may rouse him from his trance! 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. iij 



A MEMORY OF THEOCRITUS. 

Thus will I lie, on this green couch of leaves 

Stript from the wayward vine, and while the brook 
Beneath its slender osiers sweetly grieves, 
And elfin echoes haunt each shadowy nook, 
I'll hearken how, among the rocks o'erhead, 
The fountain tinkles down its narrow bed. 

Cool in this dim recess the breath of day 

Is softly blown, and from the humid moss 
Thin exhalations rise, that steal away. 
Elusive as a dream; the branches toss 
Their emerald brede above me, and belov/. 
Far down the kine to lusher pastures go. 

Sweet sounds and odors fold me like a sleep; 
A wood-bird whistles from its piney bower; 
A maiden's silvery laughter mounts the steep; 
And dreamily from one tall purple flower 
That o'er me slowly vibrates, censer- wise, 
Fine wreaths of fragrant incense seem to rise. 

O singer who, in honeyed Sicily, 

Long years ago upon some morning height, 
Did'st hear the droning of the vagrant bee. 
And saw fair Enna smiling in the light, 

I'd half believe thou hadst come back again. 
Should goat-hoofed Pan but pipe a sudden strain. 



ii8 IN REALBIS OF GOLD. 



SILENUS. 

See the beast on which he rides 
By the dewy forest-sides, 
All his huge, loose-belted girth 
Shaking with his boisterous mirth! 
Now his rough head back he tips, 
And with pursed and eager lips, 
Swollen cheeks and gloating eye. 
Drains a vine-wreathed flagon dry. 
Hark! within the hollow wood 
Wake the echoes wild and rude. 
Goat-hoofed satyrs dance with glee, 
And, to swell the revelrj', 
Shag-eared fauns the riot lead, 
Blowing each a notched reed. 

So the braying beast he strides 

Bears him on, and on he rides, — 

Old Silenus, wanton, gay, 

Recking not where winds his way, 

If again his heavy ear 

May the voice of Bacchus hear. 

Noisiest of his noisy crew. 

He has sought the forests through; 

In the gnarled and moss-grown trees 

Hid the timorous dryades, 

And from many a fountained glade 

Fled the white-limbed nymphs afraid. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 119 

There, where lately passed his train, 

Lie the tender wood-flowers slain; 

And the spray, so rudely dashed 

From yon stream through which he splashed. 

Scattering crystals far and wide, 

Scarce has from the young plants dried. 

Now around yon distant height 

Wends the masking throng from sight — 

Old Silenus on his quest. 

Seeking Bacchus without rest. 

Ah! the earth with years is hoar, 
But the scene comes back once more, 
And the sylvan arches ring 
With the sounds of reveling; 
Still amid his reeling rout 
Forth he rides with song and shout, 
Through the dales of Arcady, 
Seeking where the god may be, — 
Couched, perhaps, 'mid dusky firs. 
Or, where happy vintagers 
High their osier baskets heap. 
By some wine-press, fast asleep, 
While his tawny pards bask nigh, 
Stretched at ease beneath the sky. 



120 IN REALMS OF GOLD, 



THE FAUN. 

I CHANCED upon him in the early morn; 
He stood beneath the vine-roofed trelHses, 
All heedless of the yellow-belted bees 

That fumed about him; in the ripened corn 
The reapers sang, and through the grove of pine 
A clear-voiced neatress called her straying kine. 

With osier crates poised on their heads, and bare 
Brown necks and dimpled shoulders all aglow, 
The vintage-girls were passing to and fro 

Along the dewy slope; the morning air 
With sudden laughter rang, and on the steep 
The frolic echoes wakened from their sleep. 

I caught the twinkling of his hairy ears; 
I heard his eager murmurs, as he plucked 
The purple clusters, and the nectar sucked 

From wine-red cores; his ever- watchful fears 
Were drowned a moment in the mad delight 
Wherewith he reveled in my wondering sight. 

He stood tiptoe and stretched his naked arm 
To draw the heavy-fruited branches near; 
I saw him crush the glossy orbs, and smear 

His cheeks with crimson; then in wild alarm 
He heard my stealthy footsteps, and amid 
The wattled vines he swiftly fled and hid, 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. I2i 

He scarcely snapped a bind-weed in his flight, 
Or frailest tendril; long I sought in vain 
Through leafy glooms, but found him not again: 

The dew dried on the grass, the mellow light 
Brimmed all the misty valley, but the faun, 
Fleet as a vision of the morn, was gone. 



122 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



THE SATYR'S THEFT. 

Didst thou see him as he fled? 
Down this dewy way he sped, 
Crashing through the tangled copse, 
In a shower of pearly drops 
Pattering from the tremulous eaves 
Of the pleached and glossy leaves. 
See how, in his wild retreat 
Through the wood, his flying feet 
Crushed the fragile blossoms down; 
And those matted shreds of brown 
Clinging to yon stunted thorn 
From his shaggy vest were torn. 
It was in the shady nook. 
Where the swift and shallow brook 
Spreads abroad its waters clear 
In a mimic mountain mere: 
Hither she had come to lave 
In the cool, pellucid wave; 
As she leaned to bathe her face, 
Suddenly his rude embrace 
Compassed her; his hairy arms 
Circled all her snowy charms. 
O'er his dusky back and side 
Her dark locks outfloated wide, 
And I caught a fleeting glance 
Of her bosom's fair expanse. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 123 

And her features scared and white, 
As he vanished from my sight. 
Vain it were to follow him 
Through the forests deep and dim; 
Human eye hath never seen, 
Human face hath never been, 
Where the satyr's lair is made 
Far within some sylvan glade. 
There the wild bee winds its horn; 
There the breezes, morn by morn. 
Bring the balm from unknown flowers; 
There through all the poppied hours 
Golden light lies on the grass. 
And the flickering shadows pass; 
But no mortal foot shall tread 
Where the satyr makes his bed. 



124 IN REALMS OF GOLD, 



TACITA. 

She roves through shadowy solitudes, 
Where scentless herbs and fragile flowers 

Pine in the gloom that ever broods 
Around her sylvan bowers. 

No winds amid the branches sigh, 
No footfall wakes the sodden ground; 

And the cold streams that hurry by 
Flow on without a sound. 

Strange, voiceless birds from spray to spray 

Flit silently; and all day long 
The dancing midges round her play, 

But sing no elfin song. 

The haunting twilight ebbs and flows; 

Chill is the night, wan is the morn; 
Through this dim wood no minstrel goes, 

No hunter winds his horn. 

No panting stag seeks yon dark pool; 

No shepherd calls his bleating sheep 
From sunburnt meads to shadows cool, 

And grasses green and deep. 

Across her path, from reed to reed, 
The spider weaves his gossamer; 

She recks not where her footsteps lead, 
The world is dead to her. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 125 

Her eyes are sad, her face is pale, 
Her head droops sidewise wearily; 

Her dusky tresses, like a veil, 
Down ripple to her knee. 

How many a cycle hath she trod 

Each mossy aisle, each leafy dell! 
Alas, her feet with silence shod 

Ne'er flee the hateful spell! 



126 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



DAPHNE. 

"Which way went she ? Hast thou seen 

Any signs where she hath been ? 

Hast thou marked the trembhng grass 

Droop where her Hght feet did pass ? 

By this woodside did she ghde ? 

In the nooks where she might hide — 

In the dingle, in the dell — 

Hast thou sought the maiden well ? 

Haply down the path she fled 

Thou mayst find a tell-tale shred 

From some bramble fluttering still, 

Or beside the shrunken rill, 

Where she crossed it at a bound. 

Spy her footprints on the ground. 

Somewhere she hath stayed her flight; 

In some thicket, couched from sight 

On brown needles of the pines, 

Laughing softly, she recHnes. 

Listen! didst thou hear o'erhead. 

Where the bay's wide branches spread, 

Silver accents faintly fall 

Like a murmur musical ? 

Daphne, cease thy vain elusion; 

Leave, my love, thy shy seclusion; 

Come whence thou art deftly hiding, 

Come nor fear Apollo's chiding." 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 127 

In the laurel's shade he stood, 
And his cry rang through the wood. 

Then amid the leaves above 
Sighed a gentle voice: **0 love, 
Go thy way— thy search is o'er, 
Thou mayst never see me more; 
And though, prisoned in this tree, 
I can never come to thee, 
From Apollo's fierce endeavor 
I shall rest secure forever." 



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30 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



IN ARCADY. 

Up from yon myrtle valleys incense curls, 

Blue in the balmy morning; barefoot girls, 

With silvery laughter bubbling, like clear rills, 

Forth from their dewy lips, trip up the hills, 

Brushing the twinkling jewels from the grass, 

That scarcely bends beneath them as they pass. 

Bright robes that half reveal their budding charms 

Flow lightly round them; and their dimpled arms, 

That bear in woven baskets fruits and flowers, 

Glow in the sunlight. Yonder are the bowers 

Of Ceres, to whose shrine these offerings 

Of field and grove each happy maiden brings. 

And hither also in the smiling morn 

Come goodly youths with braided ears of corn, 

And stems of purple grapes and pomegranates, 

And shining berries, olives, figs and dates. 

Now let the dance begin upon the green, 

And while the sound of music drifts between 

The pleached branches of the leafy wood. 

Waking sweet echoes in the solitude. 

Let twining hands, light feet, and songs and mirth 

Be joined, in Ceres' praise, to gifts of earth. 

And hark! from height to height the shepherds call; 

Adown the hill the laughing waterfall 

Leaps to the plain; the bees begin to hum, 

And in the glen the partridge beats his drum. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 131 

In shady dells, where well the crystal springs, 

The naiad laves her limbs and softly sings. 

While overhead, from out the oak's thick screen. 

The amorous dryad leans to view the scene. 

Nor dares to stir a leaf from place, for fear 

She sink into the wave and disappear. 

Still round the shrine of Ceres, maze on maze, 

The dancers featly foot and chant her praise; 

The incense upward floats amid the trees 

That o'er them stretch their emerald canopies; 

Still from the heights the shepherds blithely call 

Their bleating flocks; the jocund waterfall. 

Flashing the golden sunlight back again, 

Still gambols down to seek the amber plain, 

And spread abroad its waters clear and cool 

That mimic heaven in an azure pool. 

Nigh whose fringed marge a drowsy dragon-fly 

Upon a lily-leaf sways dreamily. 

And Pan, 'mid rushes and rank water- weeds, 

To shape some sweeter pipe, still plucks the reeds. 



13^ IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



ECHO'S LAMENT. 

Here in the shadows, on my changeless bed 
Beneath the somber trees, I long have lain; 
Day after day, above my weary head 
The sad leaves rustle, and the chilly rain, 
Slow dripping from each gnarled and twisted 

bough. 
Shatters its big drops on my flinty brow. 

The tangled brakes decay about my feet; 

The shaggy moss creeps o'er my rigid face; 
Afar I hear the young flocks faintly bleat. 
And baying hounds upon the frantic chase; 
But none make quest for me; the years go by, 
And still amid these hateful glooms I lie. 

Ah! when the large, cool-breasted Night hath 
drawn 
Her star-wrought mantle from the waking world. 
And on the hills, where gleam the feet of Dawn, 
The trailing banners of the mist are furled. 
Then, O Narcissus, while the woodlands ring, 
Dost thou not miss me by thy silver spring ? 

And when, at noon, on murmurous summer days, 
O'er thy my meadows drone the yellow bees — 

When shy wild creatures frisk through leafy ways. 
And fragrant blossoms clasp thy dimpled knees — 



IN REALMS OF GOLD, I33 

Then, as thou bendest o'er thy fountain clear, 
And look, and yearn, dost thou not wish me 
near? 

Deep in this twilight solitude I dwell. 

And as the languid seasons wax and wane, 
I know the thralldom of my stony spell 
Shall ne'er be banished, nor my heart's old pain; 
But, O my love, no lightest breeze shall blow 
About thy path that shall not breathe my woe. 



134 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



A ROMAN QUEEN. 

Imperious on her ebon throne 

She sits, a queen, in languid ease; 
Her lustrous locks are loosely blown 

Back from her brow by some stray breeze 
Lost in that vast, bright hall of state, 
Where thronging suppliants fear and wait. 

A dreamy fragrance, fine and rare. 

Of sandal, nard and precious gum. 

With balmy sweetness fills the air, 

And mingles with the incense from 

A quaint and costly azure urn, 

Where Indian spices ever burn. 

A jeweled serpent, wrought in gold. 

Coils round her white and naked arm; 
Her purple tunic, backward rolled, 
Reveals the full and regal charm 
Of her fair neck and ivory breast. 
Half veiled beneath her broidered vest. 

Her eyelids droop upon her eyes. 

And curtained by the silken lash. 
The smouldering fire that in them lies 
Is scarcely seen, save when a flash, 
Like that which lights the polar snow. 
Gleams from the dusky depths below. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. I35 

Her proud, cold lips are lightly wreathed 

In smiles, as if with high disdain 
She scorns to show her hate is sheathed, 
And that he sues not all in vain 
For favors of her haughty will. 
Or e'en love's rarer guerdon still. 

He stands before her white and fierce; 

His bosom with swift passion shakes; 
His burning vision seeks to pierce 
Her very soul; he pleads; he wakes 
Within her heart a wild desire, 
That flames and mounts like sudden fire. 

A subtle glance, a whispered word, 
A waving of her perfumed hand. 
He feels his secret prayer is heard — 
That she will know and understand; 
The queen is hid, and for a space 
A love-swayed woman holds her place. 

He bows, he leans toward the throne; 
Her breath is warm upon his cheek; 
She murmurs, and in every tone 

He hears the love she dares not speak; 
What though the surging hundreds press ? 
No eye shall see her swift caress. 

Let him beware; he toys with fate; 
False as the glittering serpent is 
On her white arm, her love to hate 
Shall change eftsoons; then every kiss 
She gives him with her fickle breath 
Shall be surcharged with secret death. 



136 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



THE SONG OF BACCHUS. 

Come, satyrs, from the arbored vine; 

Silenus, leave the shady wood; 

And quit, O Pan, the reedy flood. 
And those shrill, silly pipes of thine. 

Ho! shepherds, leave beside the spring 
The chaste, cold nymph, and on the hill 
Thy nibbling flocks let rove at will; 

Come down to laugh, and dance and sing. 

Here lissome maids, with lifted arms 
And dangled clusters, lightly trip; 
Here laughter wreathes each rosy lip; 

Here beauty half unveils her charms. 

Ye know me well; my stained mouth 
My rounded limbs, my tangled hair, 
My supple body, smooth and fair. 

My cheeks like summers of the south ; 

I am the vintage god; I go 
Where'er the grape's blood gurgles through 
The fat-ribbed press. O merry crew, 

Come while the purple vats o'erflow! 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 137 



THE TYRIAN'S MEMORY. 

What stars were kindled in the skies, 
What blossoms bloomed, what rivers ran, 
I know not now; how wide the span 
Of years which dimly stretch between 
That morn I saw the big sun rise, — 
Blinking upon the dazzling sheen 
Of banners in the Grecian van, — 
And this, no tongue shall tell, I ween. 

On helm and shield, on sword and spear, 
The sun shone down exultingly; 
No son of Tyre knew how to flee 
Before the face of any foe, 
Nor would our women shed a tear, 

Though face to face with speechless woe, 
And heart to heart with misery; 
¥or fear a Tyrian could not know. 

There came the sound of clashing arms. 
Of catapults and falling stones, 
Of shouts and shrieks, and stifled groans, 
While men stood on the crumbling wall. 
And recked not of the dire alarms, 

But saw their brave compatriots fall 
And heard the crunching of their bones. 
Then closed with death, unheeding all. 



13^ iN REALMS OF GOLD. 

I know not how the battle fared, 
Though Tyre, " the ocean queen," is dead, 
And lowly lies her crownless head. 
Amid the ashes of her pyre. 
Few were the warriors that were spared 
The spear, the flying dart, the fire; 
Into my heart an arrow sped — 
My eyes were closed on falling Tyre. 

I have forgot how tenderly 
The olive ripened on the hill; 
How sweetly, when the nights were still, 
The nightingale sang in the grove; 
How soft the moon was on the sea. 

How low the mourning of the dove; 
For my dead heart no memories thrill, 
Save the glad memory of my love. 

O, like the footsteps of the morn 
Her footsteps gleamed along the street; 
Her shining, foam-white, sandaled feet 
Fell lightly as the summer rain 
On stones which grosser feet had worn; 
And, but my heart so long has lain 
In ashes, it would wake and beat 
At thought of meeting her again. 

Her hair was dark as Egypt's night; 
Her breasts shone like twin nenuphars; 
Her brave eyes burned like Syrian stars 
That morn she pressed her lips to mine, 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. I39 

And bade me forth unto the fight; 

My blood shot through my veins Hke wine; 
I felt myself another Mars — 

In thew, in life, in love divine. 

Who knows that on the emerald zone 
Which belts the changeless azure sea 
Another city yet may be, 
More fair than Tyre ? Nathless, I wis, 
Howe'er the phantom years have flown, 
The wrinkled world must ever miss 
That Tyrian maid who gave to me 
Her first, her last, her farewell kiss. 



140 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



THE BURDEN OF yEDON. 

When the twilight, cool and dim, 
Wraps the hushed, leaf-curtained limb. 
While the slant rays of the sun 
Climb the branches one by one, 
Till each topmost bough, like fire, 
Upward shoots its slender spire. 
Then I grieve, and hear again 
The faint sobbing of my slain. 

Doomed to beat with pinions bright 
'Round the dazzling fields of light, — 
Every troubled cry I make 
(Lest my burdened heart should break) 
Heard of shepherds o'er and o'er 
As a song and nothing more, — 
To the night I turn for peace 
And my sorrow's brief surcease. 
Yet whene'er I fold my wings, 
From the shadowy silence springs 
Still that haunting voice of pain, 
The faint sobbing of my slain. 

All things sunny welcome me, — 
Fruited vine and breezy bee, 
Thickets where pale violets hide, 
Thymy banks with blossoms pied, 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 141 

Prosperous meads where sickles flash, 

Fountains whose cool waters plash 

'Mid the seamed and mossy rocks 

Where the shepherds wash their flocks. 

Hateful— hateful— hateful all! 

Still I long for night to fall, 

Night that comes with nameless fear. 

When amid the leaves I hear. 

O'er the cold and misty plain. 

The faint sobbing of my slain. 



142 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



LACONIA. 

B. C. 480. 

Beneath the summer stars they part; 

No weak and unavaiHng tear 
Shall from her down-dropt lashes start, 
In token of the nameless fear, 
The hopeless pain, the bitter smart, 
That storm the white gates of her heart. 

Dark braided tresses, soft and fine; 

Sweet eyes that love hath made more sweet; 
Warm, dimpled lips as red as wine; 
And in the sward her naked feet, 
Half hid by woven flower and vine, 
Pale through the balmy darkness shine. 

The glimmering dew is on the grass; 
The distant sea moans in the night; 

The vagrant breezes sigh and pass; 

' The folded flocks bleat on the height; 
But naught can charm them now; alas. 
Earth is not fair as once it was! 

For they must part; beyond the hills, 
Beyond the blue Corinthian sea, 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 143 

Past Dorian steeps that flash with rills, 
O'er vine-clad fields of Thessaly, 
He fares to where the war-cry thrills, 
Where courage dies, and hatred kills. 

His heart is brave; he loves his land; 

He answers valor's high behest; 
But, oh! he loves the warm white hand 
He holds against his aching breast. 
Ah, 'twixt what thorny ways they stand! 
How stern is duty's swift command! 

A kiss, a sigh, a low farewell; 

He fades into the misty dark, 
And faint and fainter down the dell 
His footsteps fall: she waits to hark — 
While in her heart strange passions swell — 
How from the wood grieves philomel. 
K 



144 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



CERES. 

Sun-tanned she sits amid the sheaves; 
Above her lisp the cooling leaves; 
Beside her feet her sickle shines, 
Half-hid by woven weeds and vines. 
Her dusky tresses ripple down 
About her arms which, bare and brown, 
Are clasped across her knees; her eyes, 
Wherein a dreamy shadow lies. 
Look out athwart the shimmering field 
Where stalwart, swart-armed reapers wield 
Their flashing blades, and laugh and sing, 
Till all the pleached copses ring. 
The fruit of long desires she sees 
Wave golden in the rustling breeze; 
Hers was the bounteous, unseen hand 
That morn by morn across the land 
Scattered the generous dews and rains. 
Till over all the amber plains. 
And up and down the purple slopes, 
Dimpled the joy of harvest hopes; 
So now she sits with task nigh done, 
The while the mellow autumn sun 
Beholds the consummation fair 
Of all her labor and her care. 
And well content she hears the song 
Trolled by the reapers all day long, 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 145 

And sees the tireless sickles glance 
Amid the grain; the votive dance 
She knows full well shall circle soon 
Beneath the ruddy harvest moon, 
When lissome limbs and tripping feet, 
And twining hands that part and meet, 
Shall sow with amorous prophecy 
Another harvest yet to be. 



146 IN REALMS OF GOLD, 



THE FATAL TEST. 

Down through the Hlied valley, where waters are 
foaming and faUing 
Into the rocky basin, cool and mossy of rim, 
Down through the fields and the woodlands, 'mid 
wild things hiding and calling, 
He comes where green flags wave, and reeds 
stand tall and slim. 

Hark to the sound of his lyring! — no thin and dis- 
cordant noises. 
But music that sinks and swells till the ravished 
winds grow whist. 
While the full-brimmed streams and the birds 
silence their jocund voices; 
And the whispering trees bend low and hush 
their leaves to list. 

Brighter Apollo's coming than that of the flame- 
footed morning; 
Swift from his glorious presence shadows and 
darkness flee; 
O thou by thy doting flock, O Marsyas, hear and 
take warning. 
Tempt not the god to paftse and test his skill 
with thee. 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 147 

What are thy reed-notes frail to strains that are 
thus outshaken 
From flashing strings that throb and thrill with 
immortal pain ? 
Sweet are the sounds of thy fluting, and the 
echoes thou dost awaken, 
But with the lyre of the god to match thy pipe 
were vain. 

* * * -St * 

Flow down, O stream bereaved, amid thy reeds 
low plaining; 
O bleating flock, ye wander far from the wattled 
fold; 
Crushed is the shepherd's pipe, and the day is 
slowly waning, 
But Marsyas will not heed, though the evening 
dews be cold. 



148 IN REALMS OF GOLD. 



COME BACK, DEAR DAYS. 

Come back, dear days, comeback, O days long fled! 
Alas, the shining days of old are dead! 
No more white arms through shadowy copses gleam; 
No more fair shoulders part the rippling stream; 
Through piney groves no pink-lipped, laughing 

Hours 
Dance hand in hand, and garlanded with flowers; 
From fruit-heaped shrines no fragrant vapors rise 
Into the azure deeps of smiling skies. 
When summer airs soft over Enna blow, 
No shepherd's plaintive piping, sweet and low, 
From distant grassy uplands lightly steals. 
And softly dies along the listening fields. 
The hymns that through the woodlands rang are 

hushed; 
Long since was dried the bubbling fount that gushed 
Beneath the hill, and purled amid its brede 
Of rushes, where Pan notched his idle reed. 
No more the Huntress winds her breezy horn 
From steep to steep, and in the early mom 
No rosy maids lead up the mountain-side 
A milk-white steer, sleek-limbed and gentle-eyed, 
While dewy vale and rocky heights prolong 
With echoes sweet the sacrificial song. 
Ay, shaggy Satyr, fleeting Nymph, and Faun, 
The youthful joy and freshness — all are gone; 



IN REALMS OF GOLD. 149 

For we have fallen and on evil days and sad, 
On clanging marts of trade where men go mad, 
On vapid pleasures, and on sorrows vain; 
So come again, dear days, come back again; 
Re-people our unhaunted groves and streams, 
And fill our arid lives with happy dreams. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. I53 



THEj RE-AWAKENING. 

A VOICE upon the hillside wakes, 

A rill begins to laugh and leap, 
And nature starts, and stirs, and breaks 

The silence of her long, white sleep. 

The soft, warm coverlet of snow 
That veils her lovely limbs and face 

She lightly flings aside, and so 
Arises in her vast, nude grace. 

But now her bright new robe of green 
Is o'er her gleaming shoulders thrown. 

And many a stream of silver sheen 
Is girt about her like a zone. 

Oh, she is fair; her cheeks and brow 

Are softly bathed in April rain; 
And, standing under yon green bough. 

She hears the robin flute again. 

Old memories kindle in her breast; 

Her eyes look forth through floating tears — 
Tears not of sorrow; she is blessed; 

God gives her youth through all the years. 

God gives her youth with each new spring; 

Her winter's long, mysterious swound 
Is but her life's refashioning — 

A healing of time's every wound. 



154 SONGS In all seasons. 

O soul, lift up thy voice and sing; 

The seasons utter forth this truth — 
Thy winter past, behold! one spring 

Thou'lt wake, clothed in immortal youth. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 155 



WHEN BLUE BIRDS FIRST APPEAR. 

When blue birds first appear, 

And flute o'er wasting snows 

Their greeting sweet and clear; 

When the first pale violet blows 

In the hollow under the hill, 

And the Earth's faint pulses stir and thrill, 

As Spring's light footsteps steal 

O'er meadows brown and stark; 

When o'er the budding orchards reel 

The throbbing stars through balmy dark, 

And the forest's humid gloom 

Is dense with rare perfume, — 

Then once again from its deep, 

Long, troubled, and sorrowful sleep 

My heart shall awake to mark 

How even the barrows of death 

Grow green at the Spring's warm breath. 



156 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



THE BELATED DAFFODILS. 

Wake, sister daffodilly, wake! 

The buds their barren slumbers break; 

The trailing willow, by the stream, 

Roused from its long and wintry dream, 

Shakes all its silken tassels free. 

The robin's jocund minstrelsy, 

And early bluebird's velvet note. 

About the fields and orchards float. 

No more the hurtling March winds pass. 

But low, sweet sounds of growing grass. 

Of rustling herb and tender flower. 

Rise from the green turf hour by hour. 

Wake, sister daffodilly, lo, 

From out the south mild breezes blow; 

Along the wood-paths, warm and wet, 

Springs up the frail wood-violet. 

Already from its soft brown bed 

The crocus lifts its drowsy head. 

And stares with slow and wondering eyes 

Into the changeful April skies. 

Wake, sister, here 'tis damp and dark; 

Leap from thy chilly couch, and hark 

How peal the waxen lily-bells. 

To call us from our gloomy cells. 

Too long hath slumber sealed our eyes; 

Our mates have risen; let us rise 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 157 

And take from hence our upward flight; 

Let us go seek the pleasant Hght. 

The cattle browse upon the hill, 

The blossoms nod beside the rill, 

The bee darts by on vagrant wing. 

The birds from dewy copses sing, 

And in fresh closes, to and fro. 

The whistling plowmen blithely go. 

Dear sister, from these chambers cold. 

Beneath the damp and gloomy mold, 

Where winter-tranced we long have lain, 

We'll flee to seek the light again. 

Dost see the day, dear, as we rise ? 

Hark to the insects' mellow cries! 

Ah me, how sweet the south's warm breath! 

How fair is life! how dark is death! 

Lo, all the world is bourgeoning, 

And this, dear sister, this is Spring! 



158 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



SONG OF THE SPRING. 

Blue lies the light upon the hills; 

Keen scents of earth steal freshly up, 
Mixed with the winy air that fills 

The valley like a mighty cup. 

Warm winds, blown hither from yon wold. 
Come laden with the breath of flowers, 

And songs of brooks are blithely trolled 
Through all the slumb'rous, sunlit hours. 

From far afield, yet sweet and clear 
Above the mingled sounds of Spring, 

Through all the mellow day I hear 
The swinging sower lightly sing. 

Like flakes of newly fallen snow, 
The blossoms flutter from the trees; 

And like far music, faint and low, 
I hear the murmur of the bees. 

Ah, soul! how good it is to be! 

The pulses of the very sod 
Awake, and stir mysteriously 

Beneath the quickening breath of God. 

There is no death; the years shall bring 
Thee nearer to some viewless goal. 

Where bloom perennial flowers of Spring, 
And singing streams forever roll. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. I59 



DANDELIONS. 

What unseen power hath wrought this wondrous 
change ? 

It was but yestermorn the dull brown mold 
Grew by some sudden magic, new and strange, 

Bright with these starry flakes of living gold. 

Ah, can it be that olden tale is true ? 

Hath Phrygian Midas journeyed thro' the land, 
And while men slumbered and the southwind blew. 

Let fall these golden discs from out his hand ? 

L 



i6o SOjVGS in all SEASONS. 



A RAINY DAY. 

BLESSED, blessM rainy day! 
Here will I sit and while away 
The sober morn in this warm nook, 

And browse through some delightful book. 

While steadily above my roof 
The wind drives by in clashing proof. 
And shakes from off the dripping leaves 
Their chilly burdens round the eaves, 

I'll sit and hear the rhythmic beat, 
Hour after hour like tiny feet. 
Of rain-drops slanting from a sky 
O'er which low clouds troop ceaselessly. 

My happy calm none shall invade; 
Light Fancy now, all unafraid, 
Shall weave her charm; her airy spell 
Through these still hours shall prosper well. 

While o'er their drenched and shifting beds 
The flowers droop their heavy heads. 
And while behind their rain-plashed screen 
The birds their ruffled plumage preen, 

1 sit in pleasant revery 

Where books, like friends, smile down on me, 
And round me floats a perfume rare 
From fairy censers swung in air. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. i6i 

O blessed, blessed rainy day! 
In yon dim west die not away. 
My dreamful spirit fain would keep 
Such simple pleasures, pure and deep. 



1 62 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



DAWN. 

The dews are sifted o'er the lawn, 
Pale vapors fold the shadowy height, 

And like a ghost the pallid dawn 
Steals down the aisles of night. 

Heaven's myriad torches quench their fires, 
And yonder, o'er the earth's faint rim, 

Where in the mist the moon expires. 
The morning star grows dim. 

The soft sleep-angel's dusky plumes 

Glimmer along the silent way; 
She takes to lands of dreamful glooms. 

Far from the garish day. 

The hill-tops flush — the night is done; 

A sudden bird-note, sweet and strong. 
Rings out, till lo! beneath the sun 

The world is drenched with song. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 163 



DUSK. 

The silver dew lies on the grass, 
Above the hills th'e pale moon climbs, 

And where my eager footsteps pass 
The crickets cease their chimes. 

I breathe a fine, faint scent of musk. 
And, while the shadows slowly fall, 

A little beck sobs through the dusk. 
And flitting night-birds call. 

There flickering through the fragrant dark, 
In many a changeful, dizzy maze, 

I see the firefly's sudden spark 
Shine down the misty ways. 

And this is night. O, may my eyes, 
When freed from all life's wildering spells. 

Behold the heavenly dew that lies 
On meads of asphodels. 



1 64 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



A SUMMER DAY. 

The sunshine lies athwart yon emerald bosk, 
Where blithesome runnels dance from out the 
dusk 
Of greenery spired like an eastern mosque, 
And o'er the fields the winds steal, faint with 
musk. 

The sun, midway upon his tireless march, 
Eyes languidly the green earth's sleepy face, 

But the fond sky, with arms in dreamy arch, 
Stoops down to take her in its soft embrace. 

Lo! lying yonder in an azure swoon, 
Where earth and sky in misty outlines merge, 

I see the narrow, curved, white summer moon, 
Pale and uncertain, o'er yon western verge. 

Dim is the circuit of the far-off hills, 
From whose light crests the thin, blue forests 
fail 
In distance, and beyond the sunlight fills 
The white-winged clouds that o'er the heavens 
sail. 

The yearning willow bends each leafy spray. 
And softly dips it in the sliding wave, 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 165 

And on yon pebbly marge, across the way, 
Two little wrens their soft brown pinions lave. 

A slumberous silence steeps the summer noon, 
Save the cicada's piping, shrill and long, 

And nov/ and then a hautboy's drowsy tune, 
In fitful snatches of an old love-song. 

O day of dreams, thou art not wholly lost; 

When winter winds shall wax through sleety 
rain. 
And all the flowers lie dead beneath the frost, 

In memory I shall live thee o'er again. 



1 66 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



CHANGE. 

Ah, yes! 'Twas when the surly winds were chiding, 
And all the world was white with winter's death, 
I heard thee sing how in thy heart was hiding 
The spring's warm breath. 

Now summer skies are bending lightly over 

The dappled meadows and the fragrant wold, 
And lo! where bees drone in the fresh young clover, 
Thy heart lies cold. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 167 



THE SWEET-PEA. 

A SLENDER pink-faced village lass, 
'Round whom the light winds, as they pass, 
Linger caressingly, if so 
To win a favor ere they go. 
A fluttering ribbon clasps her waist; 
About her forehead, calm and chaste. 
Bright ringlets blow; her dove-like eyes 
Are pure and deep as summer skies. 
She is a sunny, fragile thing. 
And you may see her blossoming 
Adown some mossy garden way. 
Fresh as the dew, and fair as day. 
What though old-fashioned she may be ? 
True hearts still love the shy sweet-pea. 



1 68 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



TIGER-LILY. 

What torrid days have poured their quivering heat 

Into the hollow of thy slender urn, 
Till now within thy heart, onte chastely sweet, 

The fires of tropic heavens ever burn! 

Or pale, perchance, as virgin peaks of snow, 
Thou stood'st in stainless splendor, till one day 

A wounded tiger at thy feet crouched low. 

And o'er thy chalice plashed his blood's red 
spray. 



SOJVGS IN ALL SEASONS. 169 



A PERFECT DAY. 

How beautiful the summer morn, 

With billowy leagues of wheat and corn' 

The shining woods and fields rejoice- 

Each twinkling stream lifts up its voice 

To join the chorus of the sky; 

O beautiful unspeakably! 

In the dry cicada's notes, 

In the thistle-down that floats 

Aimless on the shimmering air, 

In the perfume sweet and rare ' 

Of the sun-steeped, dark-leaved trees 

Dwell the year's deep prophecies. 

Hark! the clangor of the mills 

Echoes from the drowsy hills. 

The foamy clouds, the smiling dale 

The dimpling waves, the laughing flowers, 

1 he low, faint droning of the bees 

Mixed with sweet twitterings from 'the leas 

Conspire to charm the magic hours. 

Under a spell the spirit lies; 

Sundered is sorrow's misty veil; 

To-day life is a glad surprise, 

A tranquil rapture, fine and frail. 

Wherein to joy-anointed eyes 

The old earth seems a Paradise. 



I70 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



SUNRISE. 

There are pearls in the heart of the rose, 

There are gems on each grassy spire, 
And the eye of the hidden violet glows 

With a tender and tremulous fire; 
For over the valley's emerald brim 

The dawn's pale light is spilled. 
And the heart of the woodlands, misty-dim, 

With the flutter of wings is thrilled. 

And hark! welling up from the ground 

An elfin music is heard, # 

And out of the copses floats a sound 

Of many a wakening bird. 
Now over the wide and darkling sea 

Hastens the sun-crowned morn; 
There's a flush on the height, there's a light on the 
lea J 

Behold! the day is born. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 171 



MORNING. 

The mist-born shapes of dawn about them wrap 

Their great gray cloaks and silently depart. 

The dew-drops, one by one, slip off the spray, 

As from the fullness of his mighty heart 

The sun doth kiss earth's glittering tears away, 

And, smiHng, fling bright jewels in her lap. 

Across the fields the chore-boy's merry call 

Comes ringing, and the milkmaid's early song, 

Mixed with the lowing of the distant kine. 

The morning-glories on the mouldered wall 

Are open, bathing in the golden shine, 

And turning from light Zephyr's amorous arms, 

Bare all their bosoms to the roving bee. 

The meadow brooks bound cheerily along 

And kiss the timid flowers as they flee, 

Leaving them weeping at a trust betrayed. 

Pale, sad-eyed Phosphor in the east hath died; 

Dimmed by sweet morning's fuller, fairer charms, 

Hath drooped and faded like a love-sick maid. 

Along the river-shallows herons wade, 

And on the wave the water-lilies ride, 

And by the shore the silent plover steals, 

Or thither comes a thirsty wren to drink. 

Ah me, how glad the morn! The breath of day 

Brings to the wakened world its healing balm, 

And softly breathes the fevered sleep away 



172 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 

From some wan sufferer's dim and hollow eyes. 
Up from the village mellow murmurs rise, 
And from yon hillside, where the white flocks stray, 
A single distant bell, now faint, now clear. 
Blends its sweet cadence with the morning calm. 
Life bubbles up and overflows its brink; 
In every heart hope sings, and love is dear 
Where'er o'er earth the morning angel flies. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 173 



NIGHTFALL. 

Descend, O dewy twilight, o'er the hills, 
With kisses soft and cool; the whip-poor-wills. 
Deep-buried in the bosom of the vale, 
Wait for thy coming, and the young moon, pale 
And dimly crescent, o'er the vapory height 
Climbs slowly up, wreathed in her own faint light. 
The voices of the day are quenched in sleep; 
Along the dusky slopes the peaceful sheep 
Feed 'mid the shadows, and anon is heard. 
Waking to sweet complaint some drowsy bird, 
The mellow tinkling of the leader's bell. 
Upon the gloom now softly sink and swell 
The cricket's slender vespers, and afar, 
As if to mock eve's solitary star. 
Or echo back the watch-dog's distant howl. 
From yon lone wood the hooting of the owl 
Deepens the hush and loneliness of night. 
Upon the lawn, the roses, red and white, 
Sift their light petals o'er the beaded grass. 
And on the poppied breezes, as they pass, 
Breathe out the musky secrets of their hearts. 
Now on his quest the wheeling bat departs 
With beating wings, and countless beetles boom 
Headlong across the fields. The purple gloom 
Thickens upon the landscape; in the skies 
The tardy stars come out, and murmurs rise 



174 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 

From streams that through the curtained darkness 

flow, 
Fretting among their pebbles as they go. 
In the still orchards, and the meadows damp, 
The fitful firefly kindles his small lamp, 
While o'er the marish comes the ceaseless sound 
Of piping voices. From the dew-drenched ground 
A subtle incense rises, and the air 
Is laden with a perfume keen and rare. 
Low in the west the embers of the day 
Die darkly down; a mist hangs, chill and gray, 
Above the silent river's sleepy tide, 
Whereon the folded water-lilies ride, 
And the tall flags, stirred by the curling waves, 
Whisper together. Where the current laves 
The trailing branches of yon rustling tree. 
Floats a thin sound of airy revelry, 
And in a dizzy maze the singing gnats 
Dance slowly off" across the reedy flats. 
How beautiful is the dark! the gradual calm 
Steals into all the blood, and like a balm 
The crystal drops of night wide o'er the land 
Are scattered, as by some invisible hand. 
Welcome, O dark! Tired heart, thou too art blest* 
After the weary day, night brings thee rest; 
After the wildering tumult, strife, and heat, 
The coolness comes, and silence soft and sweet. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 175 



WHEN THE DAY DECLINES. 

When the day declines, 

And the night is near— 
When the low sun shines 

On the landscape sere — 
Then, while shadows creep 

Over vale and height, 
Lo! beyond the deep 

A single star grows bright. 

When my life declines, 

And the night is near — 
When the low sun shines 

On a way of fear — 
Then, while shadows creep 

O'er my glimmering sight, 
Lo! beyond the deep 

May a star grow bright. 
M 



176 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



EVENSONG. 

Over the old, tired world the soothing night 
Sinks softly down; still faintly glows the west; 

The eager birds now cease their joyous flight, 
And seek the loving shelter of the nest. 

O heart, fret not; pause in the fading light; 
This evening-time thou too shalt have thy rest. 

Fieldward the cattle thrid their dewy way; 

The evening star hangs in the quiet sky; 
Athwart the leas the shadows long and gray 

Stretch out like arms, and prone and darkling lie 
Upon the unresting brooks; gone is the day; 

O restless heart, thine evening, too, draws nigh! 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 177 



EVENING AT CAPE ANN. 

Huge rocks, hurled upward by the angry sea, 
Like Titan warriors slain in some fierce fray, 
Lie scattered yonder where the billows gray 

Leap up and smite each other wrathfully. 

Athwart the wet, wide sands the long waves flow, 
Tossing and tumbling in tumultuous flight; 
And far away, through gloom of gathering night, 

The shadowy ships on into darkness go. 

Hark! o'er the troubled ocean's ceaseless roar. 
The lonely crying of the whip-poor-will 
Sounds mournfully along the wooded hill 

That lifts its solemn brow above the shore. 

Night reigns upon the sea and on the land. 
Supreme, save where yon beacon shines afar, 
As though, ere its last plunge, a falling star 

Had been arrested by some mighty hand, 

And there forever o'er the restless deep 
Poised as a shining hope, while to and fro 
The home-bound vessels through the darkness go, 

With precious freight for those who watch and weep. 

Ah me! one eventide, across the main 
Some silent ship shall come, I know not whence, 
From these dim shore's of life to bear me hence, 

And never more to landward fare again. 



1 78 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 

Well, be it so; let evening take its flight; 
To sail that sea I will not hesitate, 
Nor question if the time be soon or late, 

If so God's beacon shines across the night. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. I79 



IDLE DAYS. 

SWEET do-nothing days! I lie 
Beneath a cloud-filmed summer sky, 
And while the hammock idly swings, 

1 hear the oriole as he sings. 

Perched somewhere 'mid the glossy leaves 

That yonder maple round him weaves. 

I know that soon the thin blue sleet 

Against the frosty panes will beat, 

And all the knotted limbs will clash 

As charging storm-winds through them crash; 

Yet I shall sit where flames upleap 

From ruddy coals, nor wake nor sleep. 

But dream of long, sunshiny hours, 

When unreaped fields were flushed with flowers, 

When every copse and tangled close 

Was sweet with balm of mint and rose, 

And some full-throated song's outrush 

Swift shattered all the noontide hush. 

So still within my heart shall be 

The summer's light and melody, 

The shy, soft winds that ever shift. 

And drowsy clouds that slowly drift. 

Though at my door grim Winter stand. 

And loudly knock with mailed hand. 



i8o SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



SEED-TIME. 

The fields lie swathed in misty blue; 

Dim vapors crown the wooded height; 
From every trembling spray the dew 

Shoots back the morning's quivering light. 
In hollows where the tender fern 
Uncurls beside the glimmering burn, 
The cool gray shadows linger yet, 
To kiss the pale young violet. 
Hark! singing through the orchard close, 

And whistling o'er the furrowed plain. 
The lusty sower blithely goes 

To drop the golden grain. 

Clear morning sounds are in the air; 

The birds their jocund matins swell; 
Each stream makes music fine and rare; 

Each fountain rings its crj'stal bell. 
Sweet from the blooming apple-trees, 
Come elfin quirings of the bees, 
And from far uplands, faintly borne. 
Float mellow greetings to the morn. 
O tuneful world! each wind that blows 

Brings from the field a glad refrain, 
Where, singing still, the sower goes 

And drops his golden grain. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. i8i 



HARVEST. 

The hills are steeped in slumberous haze; 

The wind is breathing soft and low; 
On tranquil slopes the cattle graze; 

Through twinkling light the waters flow. 
About the meadows, smoothly shorn, 
The cricket winds his cheery horn. 
And o'er the calm expanse of sky 
The filmy clouds drift lazily. 
Across the smiling valley— hark! 

How steals the echo, sweet and long, 
Of those who sing from morn till dark 

The happy harvest song. 

The mossy barns, with heaped floors, 

Amid the peaceful landscape lie; 
The doves wheel through the open doors; 

About the eaves the swallows fly. 
Now slowly rolls the creaking wain 
Up from the yellow fields of grain. 
Where swart-armed reapers gayly sing. 
And sturdy sickles glance and ring. 
O liberal earth! O fruitful days! 

Each wind that stirs the rustling leaves 
Bears round the world the grateful praise 

Of those who bind the sheaves. 



1 82 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



AN AUTUMN MORNING. 



Now o'er yon hill the glad Aurora comes, 
Blushing from rosy cheeks to finger tips, 
And o'er the meadow, through the mist she slips 

Into the forest where the partridge drums. 

The humble bee above the holly hums; 
The willow in the river softly dips; 
Across the field the merry milkmaid trips. 

And on her shining pail she gently thrums 
An old love-ditty, wondering the while 
If Robin Gray will meet her at the stile. 

The lowing cattle o'er the sweet, late grass. 
With rattling hoofs press onward to the rill, 

Brushing the glittering dewdrops as they pass, 
Till at the bubbling stream they drink their fill. 

II. 

Scarcely a bird-song in the sunlit air. 

Save nov/ and then a mournful chickadee, 

"Weeping its heart away in melody. 
Cries out the burden that it cannot bear. 
The forest trees upon the upland wear 

A gayer livery, and the eye can see. 

As higher up the sun climbs lazily, 
The shocks of corn stacked on the hillside fair. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 183 

The creaking wain rolls slowly toward the field, 
Where tawny pumpkins doze beneath the sun; 
Beyond, the patient cattle, one by one, 

Stand waiting still their treasured sweets to yield, 
Looking with wondering eyes; the maid the while 
Kisses her Robin by the meadow stile. 



1 84 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



AN AUTUMN BALLAD. 

Perhaps I loved him better than the others — who 

shall tell ? 
But he was always a good boy and made me love 

him well; 
He was not like my Robert, nor was he like my 

Will, 
His ways were always different — so steady, true, 

and still. 

I mind me how he left me on that shining autumn 

day; 
The corn was shocked upon the hill, where the 

yellow pumpkins lay; 
The apples fell from loaded boughs, the fields were 

green and fair, 
And plenty, peace, and happiness breathed in 

the earth and air. 

He stood against the mellow light within tlie open 

door; 
His shadow wavered through my tears along the 

sunn}'' floor, 
To where I sat and sobbed, as if my lonely heart 

would break, 
For he was last to leave me — he had waited for my 

sake. 



SONCS IN ALL SEASONS. 185 

His eyes were dim and tearful, and his voice was 

broken, slow; 
"It is my duty, mother," he said, "that I should 

go; 
The government has need of men; I go to fill my 

place; 
'Tis better I should go to death than stay and win 

disgrace." 

He turned and left me, for he could not speak an- 
other word, 

But as he passed the garden gate a stifled sob I 
heard. 

In strange bewilderment I rose and looked upon 
the day; 

There in the sunlight danced the rill by which he 
used to play. 

I heard the sound of marching feet, I heard the 

bugle blow; 
And through my open door I saw the soldiers come 

and go; 
A face I knew, a face I loved, flashed by me, still 

and white. 
And passed, though then I knew it not, forever 

from my sight. 

What need to tell the weary v/hile of anxious nights 

and daj^s 
That followed ? On the peaceful hills I saw the 

cattle graze; 



1 86 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 

The misty sunshine, warm and soft, lay on the 

golden leaf. 
But not on that dark heart of mine, so bowed and 

full of grief. 

It came full soon, the cruel blow, ere scarce a 
month was gone. 

And he, my boy, my best beloved, whom I had 
leaned upon. 

Forth from the carnage and the strife, the murder- 
ous blare and heat, 

Was brought, the war's first offering, and laid 
before my feet. 

I could not look on his dead face, I could not moan 
nor weep. 

When, wrapped within his country's flag, they bore 
him to his sleep; 

There, day and night, beside his grave goes rip- 
pling down the rill, 

And there the last late sunbeam lingers on the 
pleasant hill. 

My Robert and my Will came back; they are good 

boys to me, 
But somehow in my life there is a dreary vacancy; 
I miss his step, I miss his voice, his quiet ways I 

miss. 
And daily on my lips it seems I yet must feel his 

kiss. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 187 

The seasons go their wonted round; through all 

the autumn days, 
The dreamy earth lies lightly swathed within an 

amber haze; 
But never come such days to me as when, in that 

old year, 
The world was beautiful to me because my boy was 

here. 

Perhaps I loved him better than the others — who 

shall tell ? 
But he was always a good boy and made me love 

him well; 
And since I know that he has gone to come again 

no more, 
It seems that he is nearer far, and dearer than 

before. 



1 88 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



THE WANING YEAR. 

By this we know the year is growing old: 

The mists droop from the hills in many a fold; 

In mournful monotone the crickets sing; 

The fitful winds vague premonitions bring. 

Across the tideless azure of the skies 

Less lightly sail the cloudy argosies. 

The golden-rods, beside the plaintive stream, 

All day within the pallid sunshine dream 

Of brighter hours, when through the drowsy noon 

The whetted scythe rang out its merry tune. 

The hoarse cicala's strident note is heard 

Amid the stubble, and a lonely bird, 

Behind its fluttering screen of russet leaves, 

Lifts up its solitary voice and grieves. 

The year is not the same; the waning days 

Are filled with sad desires, and o'er the ways 

Where once love's happy feet were fondly set, 

There broods a strange and shadowy regret. 

Old memories waken; from the restless heart 

Rise nameless longings, and the swift tears start 

Unbidden for the joys that now lie dead 

As yonder rose whose bloom long since was shed. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 189 



A HINT OF WINTER. 

Now in the wood the partridge drums; 

Across the stubbly ground 
The waiy hunter Hghtly comes 

And scarcely wakes a sound. 

The forests flame along the hill, 

And from the rustling trees 
The leaves drift down and choke the rill, 

Or frolic in the breeze. 

The sumacs kindle by the streams; 

Beneath the chilly noon 
One joyless blossom stands and dreams 

Of days that passed too soon. 

A whisper stirs the naked hedge, 

And o'er the faded fields, 
Around the pool, amid the sedge, 

A hint of winter steals. 



I go SONGS IN ALL SEASONS, 



SONG OF THE NORTH WIND. 

Hark to the voice of me! 
Hear thou the singing 
Of him who has never 
Been paid for his song! 
This is the choice of me, 
Still to go ringing 
The rhymes that forever 
Are surly and strong. 

Know'st thou the regions cold 
Whence I have hasted ? 
Know'st thou the way I take 
Over the earth ? 
Still stand the legions old — 
Ice-kings unwasted — 
Fending the frigid lake 
Where I had* birth. 

Frost-banded fountains 
Snow-fed from far peaks; 
Firths of the polar sea 
Rigid as stone; 
Shag-bearded mountains; 
Deeps that no star seeks; 
Strange lights that solar be — 
These I have known. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 191 

Men fear the breath of me; 

Sorrow and anguish, 

Famine and fever 

Follow my path. 

I am the death of thee; 

I make thee languish; 

Swiftly I sever 

Love's ties in my wrath. 

Chains can not hoM me, 
Gyves can not bind me, 
Bolts can not lock me, 
Floods can not drown! 
Fly— and I fold thee; 
Hide— and I find thee; 
Cry— and I mock thee, 
Howling thee down. 



192 SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 



BEFORE AND AFTER. 

Old Janus of the double face 

Looks both before and after; 
His eyes one moment brim with tears, 

The next o'erflow with laughter. 

He sees the griefs of yesterday, 
And turning toward the morrow. 

He sees the joys that lie in wait 
For hearts bowed down with sorrow. 

He sees the homes that love had left, 

When evil entered darkling, 
Grow bright again with happy smiles 

And eyes of children sparkling. 

He sees the graves, that once were made 
When snow and sleet were falling, 

Grow green and fair with grass and flowers, 
And birds above them calling. 

He sees the torn and trampled fields, 
Where War his red brand raises, 

O'erspread at length with leagues of grain 
And fringed with star-eyed daisies. 

He sees the shattered plans of men, 
And lives that shame has blighted, 

And ties of love that sundered lie, 
All healed and reunited. 



SONGS IN ALL SEASONS. 193 

He sees old habits' chains thrown off, 
Strong fetter snapped from fetter, 

And marks, as rolling months go by, 
The glad world growing better. 

Thus Janus of the double face, 
Whose locks with frost are hoary, 

Sees streaming from the darkened past 
The future's golden glory. 



LAUS MORTIS. 



LAUS MORTIS. 197 



EUTHANASIA. 

Hearken, yea hearken, O Death! 

Sweet Death, thou shadowy nurse, 

With touches soft and cool; 

Thou art the lover and healer. 

The watcher thou and the soother 

Of all who suffer and weep. 

The bosom of thee is a refuge, 

A hiding-place and a fortress 

From tempest, from woe and misfortune. 

The face of thee is not evil 

To him who beholds thee and knows thee 

Gentle and pitiful ever. 

O gracious and grateful thy presence! 

Thine eyes are filled with compassion, 

And thy countenance, tender and mild, 

Bringeth peace to disquieted spirits. 

Forth through the aisles of the woodlands, 

Through orchards where blossoms hafve sifted 

Their petals o'er green springing grasses, 

'Mid fields where the singing of birds 

And the breathing wind and the sunshine 

Are fraught with the promise of spring, 

Thou passest and touchest the bud, 

The blossom, the breast of the singer, 

And straightway they leave us, enchanted, 

Loving thee more than the world. 



198 LAUS MORTIS. 

The fragrance, the light, and the longing, 

The glory, the grace, and the gladness. 

The marvel, the mystery of all 

That we love or hold dear on the earth, 

Are forsaken, outrivaled, forgotten, 

When thou dost beckon away. 

Laughter and singing. 

Sobbing and crying, 

Seeking and losing. 

Sleeping and waking, 

Forever and ever 

In Death's house surcease. 

Restful thy silence 

After the tumult. 

Strife and confusion 

Born of the earth. 

Lay thy palm, cool and moist, on our foreheads. 

Till the fever, the aching and throbbing, 

And the phantoms brought forth of disease 

Shall vanish forever away. 

We praise thee, O Death, our physician! 

We love thee, O Death, for thy balm! 

We trust thee, companion and friend. 

For thou wilt not, thou canst not betray, 

Since thou art God's servant to men. 



LAUS MORTIS. 199 



A BALLAD OF DEATH. 

I HUG thy face to mine, 

I feel thy breath ; 
What breath so shrewd as thine, 

So sweet, O Death ? 

Give me thy Hps to kiss; 

Like sharp old wine 
They thrill and sting with bliss — 

Those lips of thine. 

Against thy heart I press, 

O Death, my lover; 
My utter nakedness 

Thy cloak shall cover — 

Thy cool, thick cloak of grass 

And woven flowers, 
Through which no heat can pass, 

Nor frost nor showers. 

No warmth is in thy breast, 

Nor is it colder 
Than lends a pleasant rest 

To them that molder. 

My heart from thy true heart 

Time shall not sunder; 
We shall not lie apart. 

The dark sod under; 



200 LAUS MORTIS. 

But lie in cloven clay, 

And clasp and kiss, 
Nor miss the light of day. 

Nor starlight miss. 

My mouth shall cleave to thine, 
My arms shall hold thee; 

Thy soul shall mix with mine, 
Thy peace enfold me. 

I grasp thy bony wrist, 

Nor fear nor falter; 
Thy love shall still exist 

(Nor ever alter) 

When earthly love hath fled 

And left no traces; 
Thy tears are never shed 

On faded faces. 

Than love of earthly friends, 
What love is blinder ? 

Earth's love with hatred blends; 
Thy love is kinder. 

Thy love shall still exist. 

Despite derision; 
No dim deceitful mist 

E'er clouds thy vision. 

But thou dost see aright; 

Thy love hath power 
To purge thine inward sight, 

From hour to hour. 



LAUS MORTIS. 201 

Lean over; let me touch 

Thy wan white face; 
Thou hast such beauty, such 

High, godUke grace. 

Mine eyes thy kisses seal. 

And on me pressing, 
Thy thin moist palms I feel. 

In mute caressing. 

Death, I love thee, thou 
So gracious art; 

1 lay my throbbing brow 
On thy cool heart, 

And sink beneath a flood 

Of blissful feeling. 
While into all my blood 

Thy calm is stealing. 

Who grieves to leave an earth 

Of tears and sighs, 
Of moans and hollov/ mirth, 

Of spite and lies ? 

Not I. Make room for me; 

My face is numb; 
Henceforth with kissing thee 

My lips are dumb. 



202 LAUS MORTIS, 



THE AV ANT-COURIER. 

Ho, death's outrider! dost thou wait 
Before my castle's ancient gate, 
And bid me, with imperious knock, 
Straightway the stubborn valves unlock ? 
I know thy voice, thy grim disguise, 
The fever burning in thine eyes, 
Thine eager haste that none can stay, 
Thy summons brooking no delay. 
And wherefore art thou come so soon ? 
The hour scarce marks mid-afternoon 
Upon the dial, and the sun 
Gives yet no hint that day is done; 
Not yet along my ways are shed 
Life's clustered roses, white and red — 
Still round the beaker's honeyed brim 
Joy's rainbow bubbles lightly swim. 
And whence, O Courier, hast thou fared, 
To bid a chamber be prepared 
For that weird guest, whose coming long 
I hoped to ward with wine and song ? 
Co by, go by a little space; 
I prithee, grant me of thy grace 
A little longer season yet 
My house in order fair to set, 
And fitly welcome, as seems best, 
So rare and so august a guest. 



LAUS MORTIS. 203 

Thou wilt not pass ? I must descend 
To open unto thee, my friend ? 
Be not impatient — hold thy hand, 
I come to do thy stern command. 
Lo! thus the portals wide I fling; 
I know the message thou dost bring. 
What urgent need hath spurred thy flight — 
My soul shall be required this night. 



204 LAUS MORTIS. 



PAX MORTIS. 

The lady lies clothed all in white; 

Her yellow ringlets fall 
Like throbbing rays of amber light 

Along the sombre pall. 

Her shapely limbs, like marble cold, 
Gleam through the drapery 

That clasps her form in many a fold, 
To veil her chastity. 

Her lips, pale blighted buds of May, 
Shall bloom no more, and lo! 

How swiftly shall dissolve away 
Her bosom's drifted snow. 

The light hath left her sweet blue eyes; 

The silver voice is mute, — 
Its music fled, and now she lies 

Dumb as a shattered lute. 

Her hands are crossed upon her breast; 

O, is this death or sleep ? 
And does she only take her rest, 

While stars their vigils keep ? 

The lights burn softly in their place; 

A perfume fills the air; 
The silence lies upon her face. 

And on her yellow hair. 



LAUS MORTIS. 205 

Her two white feet are still and cold; 

Her two cold cheeks are white; 
But lying under warm soft mold, 

She'll feel no chill of night. 

The winged moments come and go; 

The lady doth not reck; 
A single rose, as white as snow. 

Lies on her sweet white neck. 

The silent stars wheel over her; 

The watchers watch in vain; 
Though dawn shall come she will not stir, 

Nor wake nor weep again. 



206 LAUS MORTIS. 



NOVA VITA. 

"That which thou sowest is not quickened except it die." 

I Cor. XV. 36. 

O DAINTY babe, thou wast too fair to die! 
What couldst thou have to do with writhing worms, 
With dank, dull clods, and the grave's mystery ? 
What dim affinity with these blind germs, 
Which nature, when the time is ripe, shall change 
To waving corn, didst thou possess ? O strange 
And dark to mortal vision are the ways 
Of Infinite Wisdom. Need'st thou, too, descend 
Into the earth's cold bosom with the maize. 
That fostering nature unto thee may lend 
Her subtlest powers of light and warmth and dew. 
To make thee blossom into life anew ? 
What sweeter charms, what graces rich and rare. 
Unknown to human love, shalt thou assume ? 
O, than thou wast can there be aught more fair? 
Thy face was like a flower in its bloom, 
Delicate, pure and joyous, and thine eyes 
Deeper and bluer than yon deep blue skies. 
Lo! I must fare along the weary years. 
Lonely and hopeless, seeing through my tears 
Only a low green mound of summer grass. 
Where once I hid thee in the peaceful keep 
Of Night and Silence, who shall rock thy deep 
Cool cradle, till I too one day shall pass 
Death's border unawares, and fall on sleep? 



LAUS MORTIS. 207 



THE WANDERER. 

Have you seen our little one ? 

Yesterday 
In our midst she sweetly shone, 
Radiant, star-like; there were none 
But did love her; ah, they say 
That we've lost her — that she's gone 

Far away. 

You would know her on the street; 

Shining hair. 
Eyes of blue, and dainty feet — 
You would know her should you meet 
Our lost darling anywhere; 
God's own saints are not more sweet, 

Nor more fair. 

We have sought her to and fro, 

But in vain; 
Ah ! if she could only know 
How our hearts with tears o'erflow. 
She would come to us again; 
She would take away our woe, 

Heal our pain! 

Shall we ever see her more ? — 
Shining head. 



2o8 LAUS MORTIS. 

Laughing lips and eyes of yore|? 
Shall we have her as before,— 
Our lost bird that lightly spread 
The swift, viewless wings she wore, 
And so fled ? 

Ay, we shall not lose her quite; 

By and by. 
When our eyes have better sight, 
Growing used to larger light. 
Her fair path we shall descry. 
God will guide our feet aright, 

Graciously. 

We shall find her some rare day, 

Soon or late; 
We shall find her at her play, 
Blithe as when she fled away; 
So we will not wail our fate; 
Though our heads and hearts be gray, 

We can wait. 



LAUS MORTIS. 209 



UNCHANGEABLE. 

Behold the light upon the purple hill; 

Behold the undimmed glory of the sky; 
Look! as of old there singing goes the rill — 

Love, all things do not die. 

There gleams as bright an emerald in the grass 
As in those years when you and I were young; 

The restless birds that ever come and pass, 
Sing with as sweet a tongue. 

The flowers that spring on yonder sunny slope 
Are just as fair as flowers used to be; 

The world hath changed not! we have lost our hope, 
And we have changed, Love, we. 

Have lost our hope ? nay. Love, our hope is found; 

Secure from change, secure from tempests wild, 
Forevermore our own, beneath the ground, 

O Love, we keep our child. 



2IO LAUS MORTIS. 



A NOVEMBER GRAVE. 

The gray clouds gather, fold on fold, 
Above the blurred and dripping wold; 
The light is growing pale and cold, 

And ghostly mists steal o'er the plain. 
A robin in the elm is crying; 
About the eaves the wind is sighing; 
O dismal day! my heart is lying 

In yon fresh grave drenched with the rain. 



LAUS MORTIS. 211 



RONDEAU. 

When I am dead, and all life's griefs at last 

Forever and forevermore are past, 

Though still the green earth wheels its ceaseless 

round, 
While I sleep sweetly in the cool, sweet ground, 
I shall not reck if time move slow or fast. 

But, O my Love, the deathless love thou hast 
Shall move like light above me in the vast 
Dim void of death, where breaks nor light nor 
sound — 
When I am dead. 

I shall not reck though darkness overcast 
The summer sky, or the wild, winter blast 
Vex the heaped snows above my lowly mound, 
For I shall lie in silence softly wound, 
Soothed by the memory of what thou wast — 
When I am dead. 



212 LAUS MORTIS, 



WHEN CLOVER BLOOMS. 

When clover blooms in the meadows, 

And the happy south winds blow; 
When under the leafy shadows 
The singing waters flow — 
Then come to me; as you pass 
I shall hear your feet in the grass, 
And my heart shall awake and leap 
From its cool, dark couch of sleep, 
And shall thrill again, as of old. 
Ere its long rest under the mold — 
When clover blooms. 

Deem not that I shall not waken; 

I shall know, my Love, it is you; 
I shall feel the tall grass shaken, 
I shall hear the drops of the dew 
That scatter before your feet; 
I shall smell the perfume sweet 
Of the red rose that you wear. 
As of old in your sunny hair; 
Deem not that I shall not know 
It is your light feet that go 
'Mid clover blooms. 

O Love, the years have parted — 
The long, long years! — our ways; 



LAUS MORTIS, 213 

You have gone with the merry-hearted 
These many and many days, 
And I with that grim guest 
Who loveth the silence best. 
But come to me — I shall wait 
For your coming, soon or late, 
For soon or late, I know, 
You shall come to my rest below 
The clover blooms. 



214 LAUS MORTIS. 



TREAD LIGHTLY. 

Tread lightly, Love, lest thou shouldst break my 
sleep; 

Tread lightly o'er the turf above my head; 
I would niy slumber should be still and deep, 

While nature drapes her greenery round my bed. 

Come not too often, lest thou vex my rest; 

The grass-blades crinkling 'neath thy passing feet 
Would wake an echo in my hollow breast. 

And somewhere in the dust my heart would beat. 

The nesting birds shall warble over me, 
And in the clover, o'er my placid face, 

Through long bright afternoons the reveling bee 
Shall sound his pipe about the quiet place. 

I'll follow some sweet dream through many amaze, 
While suns and seasons o'er me slowly glide; 

And when at length thou leav'st the world's fair 
ways, 
I'll wake and softly fold thee to my side. 



LAUS MORTIS. 215 



REQUIESCAT. 

She sleeps, and may her peaceful rest 

Unbroken be; 
The flowers that nod above her breast 

She can not see; 
To warbling bird, to purling brook, 

Deaf are her ears; 
Sealed is the volume of the book 

Of her brief years. 
So let her rest; she will not heed 

The tales they tell; 
She recks not now of word or deed — 

She slumbers well. 



2i6 LAUS MORTIS. 



FINIS. 

Now his long day's work is done, 
Fold his palms upon his breast; 

Sweet the sleep which he hath won- 
Come away and let him rest. 

He hath toiled amid the tares; 

He hath given of his best; 
Now he hath surcease from cares — 

Come away and let him rest. 

Scant his wage through weary years; 

He hath broke the crust unblest; 
Quaffed the cup of bitter tears; 

But at last God gives him rest. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 
A SONG 

WITH VARIATIONS. 



DEDICATION. 

O THOU ivho, in the sacred name of wife, 

Shalt garner good from all the years to be — 
Twin of my heart, O thou who unto me 
Shalt yield the perfect flozver of thy life- 
Take these poor songs, faint echoes of past years, 
Sung in the ample light of this rich morn. 
Where Hope keeps watch beside her latest born, 
And Memory sits sm,iling through her fears. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

PART I.— EVENING. 
I. 

AMO. 

I DO not know that I could love her more; 

I know that I could never love her less, 

For none have ever felt her loveliness 
Strike on their lives but that they did adore. 
Where'er she goes there goes a light before, 

And music in the motion of her dress; 

And in her voice is such rich tenderness, 
That eyes unused to weeping must run o'er 
With l)lissful tears to hear her when she sings. 

Nor do I marvel much her harp doth sigh 
With inward pain when she doth touch the strings, 

For that it cannot weep, but only cry 
Melodiously the rapture that she brings. 

To free her lot from sorrow, I would die! 

II. 
love's vagaries. 

I often wonder, should I touch her hand, 
If it would be like others I might clasp; 
Or if it would not fall from out my grasp, 

Unfelt and gradually as trickling sand: 



222 OUT OF THE SHADOWS, 

Or if it would not burn me like a brand, 

Or sharply sting as if I held an asp; 

Or if I should not lose my breath and gasp, 
That in her presence I should dare to stand. 
But O, she seemeth me so far beyond, 

That I dare never breathe her dear name, save 
In holy sleep and dreams divinely fond, 

Which to recall awake seems madly brave. 
Alas! I feel indeed that I am bond 

To her forever — though a willing slave. 

III. 

A PORTRAITURE. 

I. 

She's very fair, and in her eyes 

Her gentle spirit lies asleep. 
Still as a star in evening skies 

Mirrored by an untroubled deep. 



The ruddy ripeness of her lip. 
The rounded beauty of her cheek, 

Mark her, of ail. Eve's fairest slip. 
The queenliest, yet most proudly meek. 

III. 

I know she hath the stateliest form 
That e'er was clothed with maiden grace. 

And ne'er was neck more white and warm, 
And ne'er was a more perfect face. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 223 



IV. 



To type her brow, of saintliest white, 
There's not a flower howso rare, 

And all the glories of the night 
Meet in the rich hue of her hair. 



She wills to be not wholly known; 

For, ever drawn into her rest, 
With livelier tint and lovelier tone. 

One knows not wheashe pleaseth best. 



Her ways are winning, yet I think 
She hath than all a nobler art — 

Those virtues, sweeter far, that link 
The angel to the woman's heart. 

VII. 

And thus I find her truer worth 

In that which good alone hath given; 

A tender being of the earth. 

But breathing the fine air of heaven. 

IV. 

REMBRANDTESQUE. 

A purple passion-flower at her feet. 
And on her bosom a white lily lies; 
And in the shadowy depth of her soft eyes 

Her placid spirit lieth fair and sweet. 
p 



224 OUT OF THE SHADOWS, 

The shifting hues that o'er her features fleet 
Are radiant of love's impassioned dyes, 
And where the curves of shining shoulders rise 

Her glossy locks in tangled ringlets meet. 

Her faultless lips are parted in a song, 
The words whereof are hard to understand 

As a dead language or an unknown tongue, 
And yet I know it must be something grand. 

But if I say not this, I do her wrong: 
She is the loveliest lady in the land. 



V. 
ON GUARD. 

I. 

She's sweet and fair, but is not true, 

And that, you know, is cause to rue, 

For who would woo a fickle maid — 

Would you ? 

II. 

She has bright eyes, but they deceive; 
That too, you know, is cause to grieve. 
For so in her none ever can 

Believe. 
III. 

Her lips are very ripe and red. 
And lips are sweet, you know, His said; 
But I would rather have her heart 
Instead. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 225 

IV. 

Or rather I would have them both, 
For with the Hps, you know, the troth 
Is plightSd, when the true heart is 
Not loth. 

V. 

Fie! I'll not fall into the net; 
She's nothing but a slight coquette. 
And such, you know, 'twere better to 
Forget. 



VI. 
MY LOVE IS LIKE THE VASTNESS OF THE SEA. 

My love is like the vastness of the sea, 
As deep as life, as high as heaven is high, 
And pure as an unclouded summer sky, 

And as enduring as eternity. 

My love is that which was, and is to be, 

Which knows no change, and which can never 

die; 
Which all the wealth of Ophir could not buy, 

Yet free to one as light and air are free. 

O Love, thou putt'st to shame the nightingale; 
Thy lips, like bees, are fraught with hydromel; 

Than lilies be, thy bosom is more pale; 
Thy words are sweeter than a silver bell: 
Yet time from thee thy beauties shall estrange, 
But this my love can never suffer change. 



226 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

VII. 

FLOWER AND THORN. 

Like some rare flower of perfume divine 
That bloomed beneath a garden hedge unseen, 
Till favored hands by chance thrust back the 
screen, 

And happy eyes saw its proud beauty shine; 

So did I find thee, O thou Love of mine! 
The fairest maid that ever walked the green 
Glad earth, and regal as a Roman queen, 

And lovely as a rose incarnadine. 

O Love, I found thee, and my heart was glad 
Of summer-tide; but I forgot — ah, vain! — 

That brightest blooms with sharpest thorns are 
clad. 
I cried, " O beautiful! " and sought to gain 

Thee from thy solitude, when o'er my mad. 
Wild ardor I felt love's most cruel pain! 

VIII. 
THE STATUE. 



I know not if it be the odorous air. 
Or yonder royal lily's stately height. 
Or if it be the tinkling fountain bright 

In the midsummer moonlight sleeping there; 

I know not, Love, if these have any share 
In turning all my thoughts to thee to-night. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 227 



There in the dusk stands pale Mnemosyne, 
One hand upon her brow, one on her heart 
Pressed hard, as though she felt the cruel smart 
Of some old wound afresh in memory: 
Ah! now I know. Love, why I thought of thee; 
Wan Memory feeleth how unkind thou art. 



IX. 
SIGN AND SYMBOL. 

Love, love, love! 

The mystic voice of earth; 
The song whose sudden changes move 

From sorrow unto mirth. 
Mark the symbol, mark the sign, 
Beauty vain and youth divine: 
A winged dart, 
A bleeding heart — 

Mortal hurts may never heal. 
Vows forgotten, vows unspoken, 
Broken bowl and pitcher broken. 

Loosened cord and shattered wheel! 
Love, love, O love! 

The rapture and the wonder! 
Evening star and morning bird, 
Distant echo, dying word. 
Stifled voice and song unheard. 

And lute-string snapt asunder! 



228 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

X. 

A FANTASY. 

I. 

A passion-flower, a lily, and a dove; 

A weary waste, heart hunger, and a thorn; 
There, in the sunlight, far away, my Love 

Beside the sea sits singing to the morn; 
Here, in a lonely shadow-land, I move — 

A silent shadow — hopeless and forlorn. 

II. 

O voice of song! O song amid the flowers! 

O wanderer fainting 'mid the thorns and sand! 
Through all the long, glad light of summer hours, 

O Love, thou sittest singing on the strand; 
See, in the darkness here thy lover cowers; 

lead him, Love, from out this lonely land! 

XI. 

IN THE SHADOWS. 

Come, Love, and sit beside me where alone 

1 sit within the silent shadows here; 

Come, Love, come and drop with me tear for tear, 
And mingle with my moaning thy sad moan. 
Come, Love, and take my hand within thine own, 
And let me touch thy face and feel thee near, 
And breathe thou on my brow, and in mine ear 
Let fall the tender music of thy tone. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 229 

O Love, alone within this doleful gloom 
Have I sat sorrowing since life's early morn 

Lost in untimely blight its splendid bloom, 
And all my soul with sullen grief is torn 

Come to me, Love, and lead me from my doom, 
I am here in the darkness so forlorn! 



XII. 
DOOM. 

Like a wan maiden sitting in the night 
Beside her dying lover, while no sound 
Breaks the oppressive silence brooding round. 

Save as she yearns for morning's anxious light. 

Her heart leaps up and listens with affright 
To midnight footsteps falling on the ground: 
So sits my soul in darkness as profound, 

And hearkening expectant, marks the flight 

Of Time who, with vast pinions wide unfurled. 
And broken scythe and shattered glass, sweeps 
down 

Across the utmost boundaries of the world. 
Between his lips that dread trump yet unblown. 

From out the sky each starry light is hurled. 
And chaos is of darkness the dread crown! 



230 OUT OF THE SHADOWS, 



INTERLUDE. 

Not every king may wear a crown, 

Nor kingly he alone 
Whose heart beneath a purple gown 

Throbs on the royal throne; 
The kingliest spirits that have been 

The world hath never known. 

Not they who vaunt of lineage long, 

And of their gentle blood, 
Are peers to noble hearts and strong, 

Or to the truly good; 
Not all that wear a diadem 

In courtly halls have stood. 

And oft is staid deservtd meed. 

And fnany the tales untold 
Of high resolve and lordly deed 

Would shame the knights of old; 
That only angels chronicle 

In characters of gold. 

O wide is God^s nobility. 
Nor that which blood doth bind; 

The kinship of hum,anity — 
The realm of heart and mind: 

From lowliest walks of life have sprung 
The flowers of humanki7id. 

Yet there is hope, though here unknown 
Through all the world they m-ove; 

For them, azvaits a conqueror' s throne; 
They shall be crowned above: 

But, ah, how sad their lot who live 
Uncrowned of womafi's love! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 231 

PART II.— MIDNIGHT. 

I. 

COMPLAINT. 

I. 

Another! O Christ, can it be! 

Will another love better than I 
Whose love is as deep as the fathomless sea, 

And as steadfast as stars in the sky ? 
Will she graciously yield to another's plea ? 

Be coldly deaf to my joyless cry? 
Folded forever away from me — 

Ah, better it were to die! 



What could I give her more ? 

Nor time nor eternity 
Can take or add to the boundless store 

Of a love that never can die; 
And yet she doth spurn it o'er and o'er, 

With cruel scorn in her beautiful eye: 
Like a shattered wreck on a lonely shore 

My helpless soul doth lie. 

III. 

Crowned with a thorny crown, 

Scourged and crucified! 
Hope's frail blossoms, in beauty blown, 

Crushed by the foot of pride! 



232 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Ah, better indeed, ere tears should drown 
The light wherein life is glorified, 

Under the sod to lay us down 
And slumber side by side! 

II. 

MARAH. 

I. 

Yea, Love! mayhap 'twere better 

If thou and I should hide 
Our hearts away beneath the grass 

Upon the green hill-side; 
And there with palms close folded 

Above the peaceful breast, 
Unheeded and unheeding, 

Sleep on and take our rest. 

II. 
I know the Spring would blossom. 

And birds still build and sing; 
That men would woo, and maidens wed, 

And folly prune love's wing; 
But thou and I should slumber, 

Though stars forever set, 
Forgetting to remember. 

Remembering to forget. 

III. 

SYMPATHY. 

I stood at sunset on a gentle hill, 

And saw the twilight shadows slowly fall 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 233 

And darken o'er the landscape spread below 
More fair than any picture, while as yet 
Against my forehead gleamed the massy gold 
Of untrod mines within the western clouds. 
Deft unseen hands had broidered every hill. 
Below was darkness; all above was light. 
The sky, a miracle of nameless hues, 
I saw as one in an apocalypse. 
Then like a sudden glory shot through gloom, 
Upon my half-unconscious spirit burst 
The boundless pity of the Universe. 



IV. 

SWEET NATURE HATH A BEING LIKE OUR 
OWN. 

Sweet nature hath a being like our own, 

She hath her joys, she hath her secret pain; 

She hath her memories, like the sad refrain 
That haunts the heart when summer birds are flown. 
We cannot have our sorrows all alone. 

But nature shares them; when we weep, the rain, 

Like tears, shines on the hill-side and the plain, 
And when we laugh she echoes back our tone. 
O myriad-hearted nature! thine shall be 

The reverence and the tender sacrifice 
Of hearts that keep their first simplicity, 

Such as we read in gentle maidens' eyes. 
Though sight were blind, yet should our spirits see 

In thee the semblance of God's Paradise. 



234 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

V. 

IF IT WERE. 

Love, that thou lov'st me not, too well I know; 

Yet shouldst thou look to-night on my dead face 

For the last time on earth, and there shouldst 
trace 
The silent meaning of a heavy woe, 
Wouldst thou not feel a pang that it were so ? 

Would not regret within thy heart find place 

That thou didst stay the guerdon and the grace 
Thy lover so besought thee to bestow ? 
Wouldst thou not feel a want unknown before ? 

A something gone familiar grown so long? 
A vanished light — a ship gone from the shore — 

A presence past from out the world's great throng ? 
O Love, wouldst thou not miss the voice of yore ? 

The song-bird flown, wouldst thou not miss the 
song? 

VI. 
FORESHADOWINGS. 

Lo! in the valley. Love, the galingale 
Bends to the blast beside the river-shore, 
And Autumn pipes forever more and more, 

While Summer's slender voices faint and fail. 

Lo! now the liveried leaf grows sere and pale — 
A phantom of the glory gone before — 
And in the woodland walks we knew of yore, 

Long since the songster ceased his tuneful tale. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 235 

Love, let us love; life's Summer waneth soon; 

Brief is the splendor of its fervent day; 
For every blood-red rose of balmy June 

Hath burst a tender bud of early May. 
I unto thee would consecrate a boon; 

O shall we love, or shall we still delay ? 

VII. 
GONE. 

Gone — and the sunlight gone, and gone the stars, 

And gone earth's beauty with her in the west, 

There yonder past the purple mountain's crest. 
And where the orange evening's lingering bars 
Grow pale before the flaming front of Mars. 

Gone — and gone with her all that seemeth best. 

Gone — and my heart is dead within my breast; 
Nay, cleft with doubts like fiery scimitars. 
Gone — and the music gone from earth and sky. 

Gone— and the heavens glow like molten brass. 
Gone — and the restless winds are hot and dry. 

And parched and thirsty is the land. Alas! 
It were a sweet relief if I could die, 

And lie at rest beneath the blackened grass. 

VIII. 
SUPPLICATION. 

O God, and dost thou mock us when we cry ? 
And wilt thou look upon our sharp distress, 
Neglectful of our utter helplessness, 

Nor heed nor help us though we were to die ? 



236 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

O takest thou no thought for those who lie 

Stripped and half-dead with wounds and weari- 
ness 

Among life's thorns, and wilt thou pitiless 
Look on our hurts and pass us coldly by ? 
O Thou who in thy Son didst feel the blow 

Of palm and spiteful scourge, the speechless pain 
Of loveless solitude — Thou who dost know 

The unutterable pangs of being slain 
Of love for love — O end my bitter woe! 

Yea, let me die, if so to die be gain! 



IX. 
UNREQUITED. 

Not to be loved by one on whom the soul 
Dotes madly, not to feel the secret bliss, 
The solemn, sweet, long, lingering lover's kiss, 

And that fine ecstasy beyond control, 

Is empty darkness and eternal dole. 
To fondly press a warm white hartd and miss 
An answering pressure, in that soft abyss • 

Of eyes to mark no lovelight, in the troll 

Of that rich speech to hear no tender word 
To voice dear love, no spoken syllable 
Responsive to the passionate heart to tell 

Its wild and yearning language hath been heard; 

That loudly hath been smitten love's deep chord- 
Is utter madness worse than death and hell! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 237 

X. 

A FEAR. 



A withering doubt hath seized upon my soul, 
For thou mayst meet another, and forget 
My lonely life — yea, think of me no more, 
And walk the world with one will love thee less. 

II. 

O dark with dolor is the morning sky, 
And sad the pomp of Summer in its prime, 
And chill the winds that o'er the wild white waste 
Breathe desolation round the wintry world! 

III. 

Beyond creation's utmost boundaries; 
Beyond the farthest star that whirls in space; 
Beyond that sea of blue whose billows break 
Upon a strand of worlds — were rest indeed! 



XI. 

DESOLATION. 



I know, I know I may not go 
In wind and winter weather, 

To seek a place where roses blow, 
And lilies bloom together. 



238 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

II. 
I should not find them, and my gain 

Would be a lost endeavor, 
And empt)^ hands and bitter pain. 

Forever and forever. 

III. 
I cannot weep, though I would reap 

The joyful harvest sown in tears; 
I cannot put my heart to sleep 

Against the coming years. 

IV. 

If love be taken from my heart, 
Wouldst seek for bud or beauty there ? 

From love life cannot thrive apart 
And bloom divinely fair. 

XII. 

A WINTER HOPE. 

I. 

O Winter, thou art warm at heart; 

Thine every pulse doth throb and glow. 
And thou dost feel life's joy and smart, 

Beneath the blinding snow. 



Thine is the scent of bursting bud, 
Of April shower and violet; 

Thou feelest spring in all thy blood 
Yearn up like sweet regret. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 239 

III. 

Afar thou hear'st the song of birds, 
And seest the bloom on Summer's cheek; 

Thou catch'st the lowing of the herds, 
The laughter of the creek. 



Bland breezes up the southern slope 
Of June come burdened with the breath 

Of roses fresh and fair as hope 
Triumphant over death. 



O sweet and rare thy visions are — 
The flashing scythe, the new-mOwn hay, 

The reaper's dance beneath the star, 
The splendor of the day; 

VI. 

The shining grass, the peaceful stream, 
The purple beauty of the hill — 

No frost can blight thy blessed dream, 
Thy heart no wind can chill. 

VII. 

And I — ah me! I too above 
The winter of my sharp distress. 

May catch the vision of summer love, 
And outstretched hands that bless, 

Q 



240 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

XIII. 
BY THE SEA. 

O maiden watching by the wide, strange sea, 
Hast thou a lover saihng o'er the main ? 
And dost thou feel the sweetly-bitter pain 

Of a deferred but glad expectancy ? 

O hast thou watched the sun climb joyfully 
Up the red east, then slowly drop again 
Down the red west and into darkness wane. 

And still thy lover hath not come to thee ? 

O maiden, let me take thy hand in mine, 
And thou and I will sit together here. 

And, gazing out across the bitter brine, 
We'll mingle sob with sob and tear with tear; 
For both are watchers by the dim deep sea 
Of human life and love and destiny. 

XIV. 
IN SPRING. 

O Love, the bliss of Spring is with us now; 

The scent of bursting buds is in the air; 

The panting bosom of the earth is bare. 
She hath a crown of flowers on her brow. 
List! music drops Hke rain from ever>^ bough, 

And sounds of merry-making everywhere 

Salute mine ears, and all the world is fair 
With blush and bloom, but thou art fairer, thou! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 241 

O Love, come down from yonder sunless height; 

Come down, O Love, for here are songs of mirth, 
And love is here, and here are life and light, 

But where thou sittest only Pride hath birth. 
O Love, descend and gladden on my sight, 

And dazzle with thy beauty all the earth! 

XV. 
FORGET-ME-NOT. 
I. 
Blue little flower from the sunny dell, 

Where yesterday I plucked thee all alone, 
Go to her, tell her that I love her well, 
And all life's still deep music is mine own. 
II. 
Go to her, take the message that I give; 

It were far better that her soft blue eyes 
Should shine one moment on thee, than to live 
So brief a life beneath uncertain skies. 
III. 
Go, in thine eloquence of beauty blest; 
Go, and if haply it should fall thy lot 
To lie one blissful instant on her breast. 
In thy sweet language say. Forget me not. 

XVI. 
THE MINIATURE. 

Two Starry eyes, from out a floating dusk 
Of cloud-like drapery, with a shadowy light 
Of royal meekness in their depths, to-night 

Gleam on mine own, and fragrance of rose-musk 



242 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Steals round me. Softly each red lip doth busk 
The other to a tender pout, and might 
That veil be lifted from her shoulders white 

By other hands, they were too harsh and brusk. 

O little face shut in these ivory walls! 
Like evening's single star to shipwrecked eyes 

That keep their weary watch when twilight falls, 
Or whitely distant sails that slowly rise 

With hope and rescue in their signal calls — 
So came ye to me, crowned with glad surprise! 



XVII. 
love's consolation. 

I stood to-day beside her mother's tomb — 

Her mother, who died when my love was young; 

And thought, when all is said and all is sung, 
Is this the end of all life's bliss and bloom ? 
O this the end— decay, and dust and gloom ? 

The heart forever still, and still the tongue, 

Gone triumph and despair, the last knell rung. 
Deep rest and sleep, deep rest, nor doubt nor doom ? 
O what thy largess, life, if this be all! 

The guerdon what of every earthly ill ? 
Ah! Hope were blind, and vainly would she call, 

And Faith were impotent to do her will, 
If this the end: but sweeter lot must fall; 

Love whispereth, " Beyond is something still! " 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 243 

XVIII. 
DEATH'S MYSTERY. 

O death, thou mystery of folded hands, 

And pulseless heart, and unresponsive lips, 

What secret dost thou hide in the eclipse 
Of thy dread presence ? O, from out all lands. 
Beneath all skies, from ocean's wreck-strewn 
strands. 

Where bones lie bleaching by the shattered ships; 

From out the engulfing wave that softly slips 
With treacherous kisses up the yellow sands; 
From world-old battle-fields, whereon hath bled 

And died earth's heroes; from the quiet green 
Of country church-yards; from the narrow bed 

Of many a long-forgotten king and queen — 
There cometh no whisper from the countless dead 

To tell what they have felt, or heard, or seen. 



XIX. 
I KNOW THEE, DEATH. 

I know thee, death, thou'rt he who once did lay 
Some potent spell on a dear friend of mine, 
And then the light of love surceased to shine 

In the fixed eyes, and slowly died away 

From the pale lips the words that love would say, 
Nor kiss nor call could win a single sign 
Of recognition. Yea, I know thee, thine, 

O death, is the all-mighty power to slay. 



244 OUT OF THE SHADOWS, 

What terrible enchantment dost thou weave, 
Thou fleshless sorcerer, that they who fall 

Under thy subtle influence cannot cleave 
The invisible bonds that bind them ? — Nay, not all 

The strenuous cries of those who sorely grieve. 
Can pierce the silence of thine earthy pall. 

XX. 

DEATH AND NIGHT. 

The bearded grass waves in the summer breeze; 

The sunlight sleeps along the distant hills; 

Faint is the music of the murmuring rills, 
And faint the drowsy piping of the bees. 
The languid leaves scarce stir upon the trees, 

And scarce is heard the clangor of the mills 

In the far distance, and the high, sharp trills 
Of the cicada die upon the leas. 
O death — what art thou ? Hast thou peace like this ? 

Or, underneath the daisies, out of sight, 
Hast thou in keep some higher, calmer bliss ? 

Ah me! 'tis pleasant to behold the light. 
And missing this, O death, would we not miss 

That weariness which makes us love the night ? 

XXI. 
BRING THEM NOT BACK. 

Yet, O my friend — pale conjurer, I call 
Thee friend — bring, bring the dead not back again, 
Since for the tears, the darkness and the pain 

Of unrequited friendship — for the gall 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 245 

That hatred mingles with fond love — for all 
Life's endless turmoil, bitterness and bane, 
Thou hast given dreamless rest. Still let the rain, 

And sunshine, and the dews from heaven fall 

Upon the graves of those whose peaceful eyes 
Thy breath hath sealed forever. Let the song 

Of summer birds be theirs, and in the skies 
Let the pale stars keep vigil all night long. 

O death, call not the holy dead to rise, 
Again to feel the cold world's ruth and wrong. 



XXII. 

ALONE, YET NOT ALONE, 

Nursed up in loneliness, with mine own soul 

The one companion of my days and hours; 

Fed on the light of nature, as the flowers 
Are fed on the invisible motes that roll 
Through the quick ether; feeling the control 

Of that God-man who once with matchless powers 

Trod the far hills of Galilee, who towers 
High on his cross above the shining goal 
That this world's martyrs die to win; alone, 

Yet not alone, my heart hath converse had 
With earth's great sages: the inarticulate tone 

Of singing birds, the murmur sweet and sad 
Of meadow streams — O Love, these things have 
grown 

Into my life; yet love alone makes glad. 



246 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 



xxiir. 

RETURNED. 
I. 



How all the weary months have fled 
I scarcely know; I only knew 

That still the rose its petals shed, 
The sun still drank the dew. 



II. 



And thou art come, and with thee light 
And love and beauty back to earth; 

O bloom and fruitage after blight, 
Abundance after dearth! 



XXIV. 
A JEWEL. 

I. 

Love, shouldst thou bid me pluck down out of 
heaven, 

To blaze within those glorious locks of thine — 
Gems never queen yet wore — the shining Seven, 

I could not gain them; I am not divine. 



If thou shouldst bid me plunge into the deep, 
And seek a pearl such as no human eye 

E'er saw, or mortal dreamed of in his sleep, 
I could not win it, though I were to die. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. HI 

III. 
Yet such a jewel as time cannot defile, 
Nor thieves break through and steal, nor fortune 
dull, 
I give thee, and thou spurnest with a smile 
Severely cold yet chastely beautiful. 

XXV. 

love's mist. 

As mountains folded in a misty veil 
Are hidden when the heaven makes complaint, 
Their beauty seen not, save where, few and faint, 

The wondrous colors glimmer ghostly pale; 

Nor seen the lovely tints that downward trail 
From airy heights no human hand could paint. 
Nor beauteous shapes that, without flaw or taint. 

Across the living landscape slowly sail: 

So, shrouded in the mists of thy reserve, 

Love, not thy true loveliness appears; 
Nor tender glow of eyes, nor dainty curve 

Of smiling lip, nor song for lover's ears. 
Love, surely thou wouldst true love's meed deserve! 

1 see not half thy beauty for my tears. 

XXVI. 
A lover's psalm. 

I. 
What if the morn no more should break. 

And all the stars should cease to shine, 
Wouldst thou still love for dear love's sake, 

And count love's light divine ? 



248 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 



II. 



If all the hills stood sunset-flushed, 
And o'er them, breathing summer air, 

Bright Beauty like a goddess blushed, 
Wouldst thou hold love more fair ? 



III. 



And, ah! what if the flowers were not, 
And hues should fade from sea and sky ? 

Wouldst still grant love a happier lot. 
Though such sweet things could die ? 



IV. 



What if the music of the spheres. 
Mixed with Amphion's mellow lute, 

Should softly strike on mortal ears, 
Wouldst bid love's voice be mute ? 



Or if the morning stars made moan, 
And birds were dumb for evermore, 

Wouldst thou believe love's troubled tone 
Less tender than before ? 

VI. 

Ah, Love! bring me no bridal dower, 
Save love that hath its own delight 

Beyond a song, or star, or flower. 
For love is infinite. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 249 

XXVII. 
A VIGIL. 
I, 
Down by the shore of the gray-lipped sea, 

Down where the caverns are dark and deep, 
Where the white gull screams when the wind goes 
free, 
And the breakers roar and the mad waves leap, 
I sat, and the moon was a mystery, 
And the world was lost in sleep. 

II. 

I heard no sound from the outer vast. 

Though the spirit of storms was wild that night; 
I heard no sound from the dreadful past. 

Though a loud voice wailed from, that land of 
blight; 
I knew death rode on the bitter blast, 

But my heart was calm and light. 

III. 

For a thought of the morning came, 

And the pulse in my bosom beat 
Like a melody born of a musical name. 

And the time grew strangely sweet; 
And my life rose up like a fragrant flame. 

And a blossoming world at my feet. 

IV. 

O sorrow was on the sea that night. 
And death in its awful din. 



250 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

And the white gull screamed in her lonely flight, 

But my soul was calm within; 
For life had climbed to a holier height, 

And love was free from sin. 

XXVIII. 

THE MORNING COMETH. 

I. 

O sad the night to tired eyes 

Long burdened with the weight of tears; 
But sweet the blush of eastern skies, 

When morning's light appears. 

II. 

Yet sweeter far, when death's dark night 
Hath sealed on earth our aching eyes, 

To see in heaven God's glorious light 
Leap up immortal skies. 

XXIX. 
IN THE TWILIGHT. 

Hope in the orient, hope faint and pale; 
Cheat not thyself, O heart, lest faith should fail, 
Nor cheat despair: 
Hope is not always kind. 
Yon lark, whose music thrills the morning air. 
Whose winnowing pinions cleave the sobbing 
wind — 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 251 

The wordless prayer 

Of weary earth for rest — 

Is surer sign unto the tired sight, 

Tired of watching through the long sad night 

For tardy dawn to light the starless skies, 

Than yon uncertain white. 

heart, stir not within my breast, 

Stir not, O heart, by night so long oppressed, 
Lest yonder hint of morning cheat mine eyes. 
Sweet Pity hath assumed a strange disguise, 
Sweet Pity to proud Love so near akin; 
For yestermorn, as through the fields I walked, 
When all the world rang with the joyful din 
Of winged voices in the earth and sky, 

1 met her — her, the loveliest in the land. 
And, with a soft compassion in her eye. 
She gave the small white lily of her hand 

To me, who hearkened dumbly while she talked; 

And though I cannot now recall her words, 

I could not hear for her sweet voice the birds. 

Ah me! Ah me! 

The very grass was grand! 

The very grass o'er which she moved away, 

And heaven drew nearer earth that golden day. 

XXX. 

heart' S-EASE. 



Life must have its dreary days; 
Heart, look up, be brave and strong! 



252 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Darkened all thy devious ways, 
Lost thy hopes in life's dim maze, 
Yet shall blame give way to praise, 
Right shall surely conquer wrong. 

II. 

Is it grievous to remember ? 

Brings the past a bitter boon ? 
Cover up each old dead ember 
Of the long, long past November 
And the chill and dark December; 

Naught can gloom the smile of June. 

III. 

This the lesson of the flower — 
All who wait, wait not in vain: 

Fret not, then, when shadows lower; 

Whether sunshine, whether shower, 

Know that in the darkest hour 
Pleasure follows after pain. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 253 



INTERLUDE. 

I SAW in heaven a solitary star 

Rise out of darkness clothed in living lights 
And speed its shifting message from afar 

Across the lojiely chaos of the night. 
The lesser Bear about the Boreal pole, 

Like a worn traveler on a weary march, 
Had in its cycle well-nigh ceased to roll, 

Aftd pale the stars grew in that world-wide arch. 
But now, when other lustres had waxed dim, 

And night was burden in the depth of space. 
Up from behind the faint horizon's rim 

Arose a fuller glory into place. 
And there it burned, with radiance newly bor?i. 

Till night her ebon wings had closely furled, 
And in the east the ruddy light of morn 

Shook like a sudden splendor o'er the world. 
O blessed lesson! In life's troubled night, 

From, out the darkness shall arise a hope 
That, crescent, shall grow brighter and m,ore bright. 

Till through the gloom, we shall no longer grope; 
No longer grope; and upon aching eyes 

Shall strike the morn, and night shall pass away, 
And from behind the veil, across the skies. 

Shall burst the dawn of Love's eternal day. 



254 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 



PART III.— MORNING. 
I. 

AT DAWN. 

I. 

The long night draweth to its close; 

Behold! the daybreak doth appear, 
And in the east the orange-rose 

Of morning shineth clear. 



The dew-drop glistens on the spray, 
And o'er the lush green meadow-grass, 

Parting the folded mists away, 
The whistling reapers pass. 

III. 

With mellow voice of milk-maid blends 
The lowing of the distant kine. 

And faintly down the hollow glens 
Morn's dying star doth shine. 



O sweet to feel the life of dawn 
The bounding pulses thrill along, 

And sweet to hear, o'er lea and lawn, 
The songster's matin song. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 255 



V. 



And sweet to see, when storm and night 
Are past, the day-star beam above; 

Ah! Paradise is surely light, 
And God eternal love! 



II. 

DOWN THE LANE. 
I. 

Blossom here at my feet. 

Muffled in mosses and fern, 
O was it not here that she passed to the street, 

With a gracious bow, as I saw her turn, 
And a marvelous smile and sweet ? 

II. 

O here in your still retreat, 

Blooming in beauty alone, 
No fairer flower than you, I weet. 

In a royal robe has shone; 
And yet her array was more complete. 

And her beauty rarer blown. 

III. 

Now tell me if she be true; 

Your petals shall prophesy; 
'Tis meet that they should, for they are blue. 

And blue is her beautiful eye; 

R 



256 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Yea, blossom, bluer than you. 
And bluer than yon blue sky; — 

Not false ? Ah, now what shall I do ? 
Sweet thing, I fear that you lie! 

III. 

A BIRTHDAY SONG. 



No slight boon have the changeful years 

Brought unto thee, O virgin heart! 
As flowers wet with dewy tears, 
I watch the buds of hope dispart, 
While April merges into May, 
Thy life's sweet April, 
Love. 

II. 

This is the time when roses bloom. 

And thee, my rose, my fairest flower. 
My one sweet blossom in the gloom 

My own life hath foreboding shower, 
, I greet upon thy natal day; 
Spurn not the greeting. 
Love. 

III. 

Life of my life, love of my love. 

Bless God for thy nativity! 
Thou art my star, my hope, my dove, 

My life is staid in thee. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 257 

Fold thou no meed from me away; 
Love's guerdon, Love, is 
Love! 



IV. 

LOVE BROOKS NOT DELAY. 

Days and sennights, months and years- 
Time hath known no lapse; 

Gloom and glory, smiles and tears- 
Many are love's mishaps. 

Blight and blossom, frost and fire- 
Beauty fadeth fast; 

Love consumeth of desire, 
Summer soon is past. 

Dawn and darkness, morn and eve. 
Golden locks and gray; 

Hearts that wait can only grieve; 
Love brooks not delay! 



V. 

A MEMORY. 

I. 

It Cometh again and again — 

The ghost of a melody; 
With an under-sound of secret pain 
In its oft-repeated, faint refrain— 

The song that she sang to me. 



258 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

II. 

The song of yesternight; 

An idyl pathetic and sweet; 
A song that rose with a strange dehght, 
Till it fell hke a wounded bird in flight — 

And I knelt in tears at her feet. 

III. 

I hear it, and still shall hear; 

The voice of a day that is past; 
With its hidden pain, and hope, and fear, 
'Twill haunt my life with its sorrowful cheer, 

Till I die at her feet, at last! 

VI. 

INCOGNITO. 

Lo! I wander in a maze; 

Laughing lip, and grieving eye; 
Smiling blame, and frowning praise — 
Strange and wondrous are love's ways, 

Evermore a mystery! 

VII. 

AN IDYL OF LIFE. 

I. 
Love, if beyond the azure overhead 

There be a place where happy spirits meet, 
Nor marriage is, nor tears, nor any dead. 

To die how passing sweet! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 259 



II. 



Past all the cruel fever and the pain, 

Past barren hopes, and plans, and foolish fears. 
Past all annoy, to die indeed were gain — 

The meed of longing tears. 



Only to sleep a long and dreamless sleep, 
Nor heed the sunshine, nor the gentle showers. 

Nor shepherd's song, nor sheep-bell on the steep, 
Nor smell the fragrant flowers; 

IV. 

Only to sleep, nor see the summer sky; 

To sleep, nor feel the joy that life can give — 
Ah, Love, though it may be a gain to die, 

Yet it is sweet to Hve! 



VIII. 

SONG. 

I. 

If thou be true, dear Heart, 

Or false, I cannot tell; 
I know how beautiful thou art, 
I know I love thee well; 
I know I'm sad when thou art sad. 
And more than glad when thou art glad. 



26o OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 



And yet, I would not keep 

Thee from one pang or pain, 
If sown in sorrow, thou shouldst reap 
Of good one golden grain; 
For so the seed, sown tearfully, 
In flowers of light should gathered be. 



IX. 

LEAVE ME NOT YET. 
I. 

Leave me not yet, O Love, 

Leave me not yet; 
The acacia and the columbine 

With dew are scarcely wet, 
And yonder stately eglantine 

Still wooes the mignonette. 

Not yet, O Love, not yet! 



Delay a moment, Love, 

O make delay! 
In purple chambers of the west 

We'll watch the dying day. 
And from the foreland and the height 

Scare shadowy night away. 

Delay, O Love, delay! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 26: 

III. 
Haste not to go, dear Love, 

O make no haste! 
Not yet the lily foldeth up 

Her sweetness — art more chaste ? 
Not yet doth modest Dian fleet 

Across the dusky waste. 

Dear Love, O make no haste! 

IV. 

Heed not the darkness, Love, 

Nor shadows heed; 
I see faint Hesper in the heaven, 

And the firefly in the mead; 
But if thou leave me now, O Love, 

Then cometh night indeed. 

O Love, give night no heed! 

X. 

CARMEN NOCTIS. 



Now sleep hath kissed the white brow of my Love, 
And closed her pearly lids with touches light, 

While round her, cloud-like, musically move 
The winged dreams of night. 

II. 
The river murmurs by its hidden bowers, 

In monotones that swell or faintly swoon; 
And sighing out their souls, the love-sick flowers 

yearn to the pallid moon. 



262 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 



III. 



From out the dingle ripples sweet and clear 
The plaintive love-song of sad Philomel, 

And Echo, o'er the solitary mere, 
Mocks back her ritournel. 



There is a rustle through the damask fold 

Of curtains at the casement wreathed with vine. 

And Notus, through the drapery fringed with gold, 
Steals in with song divine: 

V. 

Steals in across the quaintly carven plinth. 
With gifts from lands where Summer ever smiles. 

With subtle perfume of the hyacinth. 
And spice from Indian isles: 

VI. 

Steals in to sacrifice at Beauty's shrine; 

He who alone may tread that fair domain — 
O dreamer from the southern palm and pine, 

Thy worship is in vain! 

VII. 

The maiden sleeps. Keep watch, O silent stars! 

Keep watch, sweet Luna, now my lady sleeps! 
Till glad Aurora comes, watch, ruddy Mars; 

Till Tithon newly weeps! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 263 



XI. 
HESPER. 



O Star of the pale-bosomed night, 

Let thy smile re-illumine the world; 
Like a garment the darkness clothes valley and 

height, 
In the dim-caverned west dies the opaline light, 

And the pinions of sleep are unfurled. 

II. 

Come forth from thy tent in yon cloud, 

That thy beauty may gladden the skies; 
See, the mountains lie folded in mist like a shroud, 
And the river that loves thee is singing aloud, 
And the summer wind seeks thee with sighs. 

III. 

In her chamber, 'mid curtains of white, 

My lady lies silent in sleep; 
O star, shed thy balm through the strokes of the 

night. 
Charm the hours, as they go, that her dreams may 
be bright. 
And the hush of the darkness be deep. 

IV. 

And lo! when the gates of the dawn 
Shall unfold, and the shepherdess leads 



264 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Her white flock to feed on some high dewy lawn, 
And the mists and the visions of night are with- 
drawn, 
And the rivulet sings through the meads,— 

V. 

Then fair shall my lady appear, 
And sweet as the breath of the May; 

And her heart shall be light as the heart of the 
year, 

And shall throb into song, as she pauses to hear 
The sound of the wakening day. 

XII. 

MORNING SONG. 

I. 
Star of the morning, arise! 

Arise in the light of thy love; 
Faintly the dawn in the orient skies 
Awakes from its dreaming the dove. 
O Love, 
Shine on the dark world with thine eyes! 

II. 

Come out from the dim land of dreams; 

Come out, for the dawning is near; 
In the heart of the lily the dew-drop gleams, 

In the eye of the rose is a tear. 
Ah, Dear, 
Aurora's light already beams. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 265 

III. 

She Cometh from over the sea, 
And a hint of her coming was heard, 

When the flowers unfolded o'er woodland and lea. 
And a song shook the breast of a bird; 
It stirred 

The whole sleeping world, save thee. 

IV. 

O blithe is the voice of the rill, 

And the print of the sandaled feet 
Of Morning shines on yonder hill, 

And the day goes far and fleet, 
O Sweet, 
The day — and thou slumberest still! 

XIII. 
FIOR DI LEV ANTE. 



I think thou canst not be. Love, what thou art, 
Or if so be, thou seemest more than all, 
For when thou speak'st I hear the blithe birds 
call, 

And in this there is something which is part 

Of yon blue cope and ruddy shafts that dart 
From out the sunset, of the mountains tall. 
Of laughing brook and loud-voiced waterfall, 

And e'en the love that blossoms in my heart. 



266 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

I hear in sobbing of the solemn sea, 
In sighing shell upon the silent shore, 

In distant song of stars, in whispering lea, 
A frail, faint music I have known before — 

A voice like unto thine, yet not of thee, 
For than all these thou still art something more. 

II. 
O Love, thou art a part of that rich flower 

Which there in light unfolds a purple bloom; 

Whose delicate aroma fills my room 
With hints of thine own meekly regal power. 
Ah, yes! I know thee now; for but this hour, 

Athwart the sunlight there, with fine perfume 

A shadow fell from out the purple gloom — 
As falls the mist-blue light when tempests lower — 
And took a shape of fragrance, which was thine. 

O Zante! thou and my sweet Love are one! 
O Zante! it is said thou art divine; 

For thou in Hyacinthus' blood wast sown 
In loveliness, and like this Love of mine 

Art beautiful, as she is Beauty's own! 

XIV. 

A lover's vesper song. 
I. 
The blue bends down to kiss the hills, 

The hills rise up to kiss the blue, 
They clasp and kiss at their own sweet wills- 
Love, why not I and you ? 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 267 

II. 

The sea leaps forward to the land, 
The land hugs close the amorous sea; 

They meet and marry on the strand — 
Love, why not thus meet me ? 

III. 

Look off, and mark the fervid west, 
How night stoops down to fold the day, 

How day leans on night's throbbing breast — 
Sweet Love, shall we delay ? 

IV. 

The hills and sky, the land and sea, 
The day and darkness teach us this, — 

That you must wed, dear Love, with me, 
Or life's best guerdon miss. 



XV. 

APOLOGY. 

I. 

O what a life to live. Dear, 

If love were not, if love were not! 
Or what might Heaven give, Dear, 

Of sweeter lot, of sweeter lot ? 
No angel form in woman's guise. 

To give the great world birth. 
With hidden wings and holy eyes 

Might meekly walk the earth. 



268 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

II. 

O what a death to die, Dear, 

Bereft of love, bereft of love! 
For torn the fondest tie, Dear, 

What hope above, what hope above ? 
Ah, weary were the years, I trow, 

If close within the heart 
We kept no shrine where we might bow 

From all the world apart. 



XVI. 
THIS TRUTH THE WORLD' S. 

This truth the world's, that whoso loves is free; 

No cankering fetters mar his glad estate; 

That happy man who finds indeed his mate 
Mounts straightway up into eternity. 
He is not slave to time, nor trouble he; 

Not bondman unto any cruel fate; 

He knoweth not the pain of those who wait 
For that which never was and cannot be. 
Free of the free, and blessed of the blest; 

Prince-prophet who hath a divine foretaste 
Of that rich joy which spirits feel above; 
Glad heart that entereth early into rest; 

Blithe pilgrim o'er life's drear and desert waste. 
Thou art immortal. Yea, for God is love! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 269 

XVII. 

SONG. 

O roses, Love, are blushing red, 

And bright the lily's bloom. 
And sweet and rare, beyond compare, 

The morning's rich perfume. 
A braver beauty never shone 

Beneath serener skies, 
And ne'er have blown in tint and tone 

Blooms of diviner dyes; 
And thou too. Love, art fairer grown 

To love-anointed eyes. 



XVIII. 

love's healing. 

I. 

Why should thy songs be ever gay, 
O love so full of grief and pain ? 
I sing another song to-day 
That hath a sad refrain; 

A little lay 
Like tender April rain. 

II. 

Love's tears make love's bright blossoms grow- 

O blessed be the frequent showers! 
Nor summer sun, nor winter snow, 



270 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Can yield such priceless dowers: 

It rains, and lo! 
The earth is full of flowers. 

III. 

A cloud, like an unwelcome truth, 

Oft in its bosom bears a boon 
We wis not of until, forsooth. 
It droppeth like a tune. — 

O heart of ruth, 
Like dew in nights of June. 

IV. 

Come shine or shower, come bHss or bane, 

What matter, if they healing bring ? 
Love binds but with a golden chain, 
Each link a wedding ring. 

O happy twain 
Who weep, and weeping sing! 



XIX. 

MY LADY. 

I. 

As shine from yonder dusky skies 
The stars that fret the pallid night, 

So shine my Lady's heavenly eyes. 
To fill the world with tender light. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 271 



II. 



Her voice is sweet as tinkling rills 
That meet and mingle musically, 

And trip together down the hills, 
To lose themselves within the sea. 



III. 



Not sweeter is the breath of June, 
That stirs her garments lovingly. 

Than are the words which, like a tune, 
Fall from her lips melodiously. 



IV. 

Her hair is like a golden mesh 
Wherein the tangled sunshine lies. 

And like primroses, fair and fresh. 
Her cheeks the dewy morning dyes. 

V. 

As leans the lily on its stalk. 

When lightly falls the wooing shower, 
So leans she from the garden walk. 

To catch the scent of some rare flower. 

VI. 

The earth is fairer since she is, 
And nearer leans the happy sky; 

And half his terrors death shall miss, 
Because my Lady, too, must die. 



272 OUT OF THE SHADOWS, 

XX. 

love's mirror. 

Go to thy mirror, Love, where thou may'st view 
The rose of beauty blooming in thy face. 
And chide me not that, dazzled by thy grace, 

I give thee praise thou countest not thy due. 

A lovelier lip than thine I never knew, 
And never life in fairer form found place, 
And Time, methinks, were he but to erase 

One lovely line, forevermore must rue. 

O love were slain of love, if in thy pride 
Of secrecy thou shouldst veil every- charm, 

And that whereof he thrives to love denied, 
Himself must to himself do mortal harm. 

Nay look. Love, in thy glass, nor longer chide 
When love in passionate praises waxeth warm. 



^ XXI. 
THE DREAM. 

Last night I dreamed that thou wast by my side, 
And thy sweet voice fell flute-like on mine ear, 
In accents solemn, low, yet silver-clear, 

And- thou didst look upon me tender-eyed. 

Then all my passionate longing and my pride. 
All my dull pain of hopelessness and fear, 
Vanished like mist upon a mountain mere 

Which the warm sun salutes at morning-tide. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 273 

All night my heart was full of speechless bliss, 
And though thou wast less human than divine, 

I felt at last I nevermore should miss 
From out my life that loveliness of thine; 

For when our souls closed in one swooning kiss, 
I knew eternally that thou wast mine. 

XXII. 

SONG. 

I. 
Fly, robin, fly! 
Fly to the nest of thy love; 
Fly, for the evening star is on high, 
And the moon is over the grove. 
Fly, robin, fly away, 
For night is come with shadows gray, 
O fly away, away! 

II. 
Fly, robin, fly! 
Fly at the call of thy mate; 
Fly, for the darkness covers the sky. 
And it is hard to wait. 
Fly, robin, do not stay; 
Hush! it is no longer day; 
O haste away, away! 

III. 

Go, O foolish heart! 

Go, with the robin's flight; 

No longer keep from truth apart; 

Go, seek thy Love to-night. 



274 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

O hasten, heart, away; 

They only lose who make delay; 

O heart, away, away! 

XXIII. 

REVELATION. 

I. 

Great God! what was it gave me utterance 
To-night, and nerved my heart, that I did dare 

To brave my fate, and blindly throttle chance, 
And gain a good that seems too great to bear ? 

II. 

O peace and plenty after plague and dearth! 

Not wholly dark the world, nor drear the way. 
God grant I may not fail from off the earth. 

Nor find that I have dreamed with breaking day! 

XXIV. 

CAROL. 

Night from the dark world 

Her mantle hath drawn. 
And low on thy lattice. Love, 

Trembles the dawn. 
Morn from the orient 

Cometh in pride 
Of saffron and crimson, 

And fair as a bride. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 275 

In thy garden the roses 

Are lying awake, 
And never a moment 

Of slumber they take; 
They glow with the tidings 

They bear, Love, for thee — 
A message of morning 

From over the sea. 
O tarry no longer 

With dull-lidded sleep; 
Fly the false visions 

That have thee in keep! 
Rise in thy loveliness, 

Morning-to-be; 
Lo, I am waiting, Love, 

Dawn thou on me! 

XXV. 
all' alba. 



'Twas morning, and the western sky was dark; 

'Twas morning, and the west was drowned in 
gloom; 

But in the east, as if a rose did bloom 
Within the doubtful darkness, grew a mark 
Of rosy light and spread in a wide arc. 

And higher up the heavens slowly clomb. 

Then those great clouds that in the west did 
loom 
Were sundered quite and vanished. A swift lark 



276 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

Rose from the meadow straight up in the sky, 
And from his breast upbubbled a sweet song 

That fainter grew and fainter, as more high 
He rose, yet seemed in rapture to prolong. 

Until in heaven it did fail and die, 
Below reechoed by a countless throng. 

II. 

The world is very warm and full of light; 

Ay, full of light and beauty and of song; 

I cannot understand how I so long 
Have shivered 'neath the sombre wings of Night. 
I cannot find a thing that is not bright 

And glowing with the gladness of a strong. 

Great love, and on the earth there is no wrong, 
Nor mildew, sorrow, care, nor any blight. 
There is a music o'er the whole wide world, 

And choral voices hymning in love's sphere. 
And like the Sphinx, Despair her wings hath furled. 

And very dull and heavy is her ear; 
Within my heart there lies a hope impearled — 

A new-found hope: O joy is everywhere! 

XXVI. 

LOVE DOTH NOT IN CASTLES DWELL. 
I. 

Love doth not in castles dwell, 

Nor in cot nor palace he; 

Not on land nor on the sea. 
Nor by flood nor fell. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 277 

II. 

Love is neither here nor there; 
Not in cradle, nor in grave, 
Not in dungeon with the slave; 

Love is everywhere. 

III. 

Love is not a poet's dream; 
'Tis not that, nor is it this— 
Pain or pleasure, bale or bliss; 

Neither gloom nor gleam. 



Love cannot be told by years; 

Never young, and never old; 

Never bought, and never sold, 
Save for smiles or tears. 

V. 

Not below, nor yet above; 

Neither is he bond nor free; 

Lo, behold the mystery: 
Love is — only love! 

XXVII. 
LOVE HATH COME TO ME. 
I. 
My heart sings as the birds sing 

In the soft summer weather, 
And all the little loves take wing 
'Round the green world together; 



^7^ OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

The fountains purl a sweeter tune, 
The flowers are fairer far to see, 

And richer is the life of June, 
Since love hath come to me. 

II. 
It was but yester-even, 

Amid the shadows gray, 
True heart to heart was given 

Forever and a day; 
O earth, such happy, happy words 

Bring Eden back again to thee! 
Ah, sing your blithest, merry birds, 

For love hath come to me. 

III. 
Sound through the dusk, O whip-poor-will, 

Sound, while the slow stars brighten. 
Your ritournel from hill to hill, 

Till morning skies shall lighten; 
Old world, thou yet art very bright; 

Let shine or shadow round me be, 
I'll welcome day, or welcome night. 

Since love hath come to me. 

XXVIII. 
A SONG OF THE SUNSET. 

List, Love, oh list! 
Hear'st thou the voice pf the trees? 
Hear'st thou the music of the mist 
Stealing along the leas ? 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 279 

O, sweet yon orange light 
Against the deep sky's blue repose, 
And bland the breath of the summer night, 
And rare the scent of the rose. 

II. 

Look, Love, oh look 

At the silvery shine of the stars, 

Beginning to tremble where lately shook 

The sunset's crimson bars! 

And there in the deepening dusk. 

Across the billowy lawn, 

The lilies lie in a dream of musk. 

Awaiting the dewy dawn. 

III. 

O Love, the night is come, 

And where the reeds and rushes quiver 

The voices of the day are dumb. 

O'er hill and field and river; 

And nature's fairest gems are strown 

Adown that radiant way 

The spicy breath of mom is blown, 

Upon earth's bridal day. 

IV. 

Sleep, Love, oh sleep! 
For night on the weary world 
Hath flitted down yon azure steep, 
And her dew- wet wings are furled; 



28o OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

O tenderly on tired eyes 

She lays her shadowy hand, 

And rich the balm and sweet the calm 

O'er all the quiet land. 

XXIX. 
OVERWROUGHT. 

Last night, beneath the summer stars we stood, 
And with her fragrant breath against my cheek, 
I twined her hair in fashion of the Greek, 

And from the roses round about us strewed 

I made for her a crown as red as blood. 
The fountain rose from out the white swan's beak 
And fell with music; still she did not speak, 

Nor did I break the silence of her mood, 

But marked the humor of her maiden art. 
She stood with eyes downcast, and I could hear — 

Or fancied so — the beating of her heart. 
She stooped to pluck a red rose growing near, 

And as she thrust the thorny boughs apart, 
I kissed her peerless cheek, and lo, a tear! 

XXX. 

DOUBTED. 

I. 

What ? dost thou doubt me, Love ? 

Have I waited, then, in vain ? 
Doth naught that I suffered prove 

My passion is deeper than pain ? 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 28 1 

Constant when thou didst scorn; 

Patient when thou didst spurn; 
Hoping, though hope of hope were shorn; 

Is there something still to learn ? 

II. 
Nor time, nor space, nor circumstance 

Can make or mar again; 
A sovereign ordered not of chance, 

Love is not slave to men. 
Yet fearest thou that he will change. 

Now love to love is kind ? 
Ah, thou forgettest he may not range, 

For love was always blind! 

XXXI. 
THE GIFT. 

See what I bring to thee, dear Love, dear Love, 

To type the pure affection of my heart; 

I might not bring an earnest to impart 
How pure it is so well as this white dove. 
And yet were I to seek by this to prove 

My innocence of any specious art, 

I might defeat myself and in the part 
Of arrant knave, or fool, or jester move. 
O yet believe me by this snow-white bird — 

By every agony that doth inure 
The heart to waiting and to hope deferred — 

By every hope that ever did endure 
Against a blighting scorn or bitter word — 

My trust is loyal, my affection pure! 



282 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 

XXXII. 
FORBEARANCE. 

That I should love thee seemeth, Love, most meet; 

For who that once hath looked in thy true eye, 

And felt thy maiden soul's white purity, 
Could other than do homage at thy feet ? 
But, ah! I wonder. Love, when I repeat 

Love's oft-told tale and to thee madly cry, 

Thou dost not spurn my presence utterly, 
Or swiftly from my passionate arms retreat. 
O Love, that I should even dare to hear 

One uttered syllable of thine, or hold 
For one brief moment thy warm hand, nor fear 

To sit beside thee, seemeth overbold. 
Ah! lover never yet was suffered near 

A mortal maid of so divine a mould! 

XXXIII. 
love's VICTORY. 

Love, should I find thee other than I deem — 
Less noble than I hold thee in my thought — 
Then might the potent spell which love hath 
wrought, 

Fade like the baseless tissues of a dream; 

For if thou be not that which thou dost seem. 
My reason to my reason this hath taught — 
That though thou be with outward beauty fraught. 

It can no want of inward grace redeem. 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 283 

But, ah! I wrong thee by this cruel doubt, 
That ever thou couldst so dissimulate; 

And now my love-wise heart doth reason flout. 
That he should dare presume on love's estate; 

And sorely pressed in an inglorious rout, 
He flies the field and yields the spoil to fate. 



XXXIV, 
RECOMPENSE. 



Out of the darkness, out of the night. 
Out of the shadows of dole and dread. 

Out of the bitterness, out of the blight; 
O joy! let the dead past bury its dead. 

II. 

For the hurt there is healing; for weary ones rest; 

Comfort for those who in loneliness weep; 
Lo! the last sun sinks away in the west. 

And so He doth give His beloved ones sleep. 

III. 

Large is the guerdon, O Life, that thou givest; 

Recompense sweeter than rest there is none; 
O heart, it is thine! be glad that thou livest! 

Sweet, sweet is the calm when the tempest is done! 



284 OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 



XXXV. 
EPINICION. 



And thou art mine, and mine are love and peace; 
Yea, thou and these are mine forevermore; 
The cold dark Winter of my life is o'er, 
And Spring comes in crowned with the year's in- 
crease. 

II. 

Yea, mine for time and for eternity; 
To keep and cover here within my heart 
Through all the years, and nevermore to part — 

Nay, death could not dissever thee and me! 

III. 

Mine only, and the night is overpast; 

Mine, and the morning moves upon the sky; 

Mine, mine alone! O joy to live or die! 
Through flood and fire to the palm at last! 



OUT OF THE SHADOWS. 285 

L' ENVOY. 

AN AUTUMN SONG. 



O HEARKEN, Love, across the fell, 

And up the flaming dingle, 
The lusty songs of reapers swell, 

And sheep-bells faintly mingle. 
The sumac on the hillside burns, 

And, each pale leaf adorning, 
The yellow sunlight softly yearns 

Through this October morning. 

II. 
Adown the aisles of yonder wold, 

Dear Love, do you remember 
How gladly, hand in hand, we strolled 

And thought not of December ? 
But now the golden-rods alone 

Stand in the sun and shiver, 
Where then a summer glory shone 

By brook and rill and river. 

III. 
O Love, we will not wail the past, 

Though Autumn cometh quickly, 
And round the heart death's icy blast 

Shall sow its sorrows thickly; 
For in God's heaven the winter comes 

With desolation never. 
But there perennial Summer blooms 

Forever and forever. 



SONNETS. 



SONNETS. 289 



AFTER THE BATH. 

Now the swart slave-girls bring their perfumes 
sweet, 

And lightly sprinkle all her lustrous hair, 

Her supple neck, her ivory breast half-bare, 
Her glowing limbs, and e'en her pink-white feet. 
Languid she leans against the cushioned seat, 

While one white hand along the ebon chair 

Wanders to stroke the pard-skin lying there; 
Upon her eyes the jetty lids half meet. 
What dreams she of, now that the bath is done. 

The unguents ended, and the cool robe brought ? 
Of lovers ? Nay — again beneath the sun 

She sees the red arena's sands upcaught 
In wild beasts' bloody jaws, and one by one 

The gladiators dying where they fought. 



290 SONNETS. 



ARACHNE. 

Ah, poor Arachne, what availed thy skill ? 

A mortal ne'er can match immortal art; 

Better it were that thou hadst brimmed thy heart 
With housewife thrift and peace, than thus to fill 
Thy life with anguish and the years with ill. 

What strange new pangs did through thy being 
dart, 

As loathly change crept o'er thee, part by part. 
When the proud goddess wrought on thee her will ? 
Dost thou remember sadly those old days 

When all the maidens envied thy deft hands, 
And bitter in their ears was thy just praise ? 

Now is thy sorrow told in many lands, 
And every gossamer by dewy ways 

Shines with thy tears that bead its silken strands. 



SONNETS. 291 



NATURE'S CHILD. 

To thy great heart, O Nature, take thy child; 

Close fold him in thy large, serene embrace; 

Hide from the garish light his tired face; 
Safe shelter him from storm- winds loud and wild. 
Around him let thy hoary rocks be piled. 

And sentinel trees guard well the quiet place 

Where o'er him sunny shadows interlace. 
And gentle violets breathe their perfume mild. 
There let the birds at morn and evening sing; 

There let the small stream chime its silver bells; 
There let the wind its viewless censers swing, 

And monk-like crickets chant in grassy cells. 
O Nature, thy cool mantle o'er him fling. 

And weave into his sleep thy sweetest spells. 



292 SONNETS. 



FINEM RESPICE. 

O Nature, take me to thy heart once more, 

Nor let the mornings be less bright that I 

Beneath the murmuring leaves and flowers lie, 
Nor let the happy birds that sing and soar 
Repeat one joyful note the less, that o'er 

My resting-place the summer grass is high; 

I would not that to any human eye 
The world should be less lovely than of yore. 
For life to me is full of pleasantness, 

And all the ways of earth are fresh and sweet; 
The night hath breathed upon me but to bless, 

And morn with dew hath laved my eager feet; 
So when the cool turf on my brow shall press, 

Still let the prosperous seasons o'er me meet. 



SONNETS. 293 



ONE WITH NATURE. 

WIZARD Nature, make me one with thee; 
One with the rolHng earth, the leafy trees, 
One with the winds that breathe soft melodies, 

One with the vital sunlight, large and free. 

1 would the springing grass were part of me. 
The brook-flags waving in the errant breeze, 
The daisies burning star-like on the leas, 

The cool gray forest's gloom and mystery. 
I would my heart should pulsate with the beat 

Of ocean's mighty throbbing; I would go 
Where'er thine influence should lead my feet, 

As roving streams still seaward ever flow. 
Dear Nature, warm me with thy generous heat, 

And into thine own being let me grow, 



294 SONNETS. 



A SEA GRAVE. 

Yea, rock him gently in thine arms, O deep! 

No nobler heart was ever hushed to rest 

Upon the chill, soft pillow of thy breast — 
No truer eyes didst thou e'er kiss to sleep. 
While o'er his couch the wrathful billows leap. 

And mighty winds roar from the darkened west. 

Still may his head on thy cool weeds be pressed. 
Far down where thou dost endless silence keep. 
Oh, when, slow moving through thy spaces dim. 

Some scaly monster seeks its coral cave. 
And pausing o'er the sleeper, stares with grim 

Dull eyes a moment downward through the wave, 
Then let thy pale green shadows curtain him. 

And swaying sea-flowers hide his lonely grave. 



SONNETS. 295 



SYRINX. 

Leave me to wither here by this dark pool, 
Where the winds sigh amid the shuddering reeds, 
And slimy things creep through the water-weeds, 

And snakes glide out from coverts dim and cool. 

Leave me, O Pan; thou hast been made the fool 
Of thy hot love; go where thy white flock feeds, 
And pipe thy ditties in the dewy meads, 

And watch the silly sheep that own thy rule. 

Get hence; I am become a loveless thing; 

No charms of mine shall ever tempt thee more; 

No more in valleys green and echoing 
Shalt thou surprise and fright me, as of yore; 

Go, clash thy hoofs, and make the woodlands ring^ 
But let me wither here on this dark shore. 



296 SONNEl^S. 



VANISHED. 

It was but yesterday I saw his sheep, 
The while he led them up the height to feed, 
And heard him merrily pipe upon his reed, 

And mock the echoes from yon rocky steep; 

'Twas yesterday I found him fast asleep, 
His flock forgot and wantoning in the mead. 
His pipe flung lightly by with idle heed, 

And shadows lying round him, cool and deep. 

But though I seek I shall not find him more, 
In dewy valley or on grassy height; 

I listen for his piping — it is o'er. 
From out mine ears gone is the music quite; 

There on the hill the sheep feed as before, 
But Pan, alas, has vanished from my sight! 



SONNETS. 297 



ROMEO TO JULIET. 

Love, touch my mouth with kisses as with fire; 

Lean hard against my breast, that I may feel 

From thy warm heart its influence subtly steal 
Through all my veins; with overmuch desire 
My spirit fainteth, and my lips suspire 

Swiftly with heavy breathings; round me reel 

The shadows of the dark, and downward wheel 
The dim, far stars from heaven; draw me nigher 
Unto thy bosom. Love, for all my sense 

Of earth and time fleets from me . . . Dayward 
flows 
The stream of night, and into yon immense 

Blue void the slow moon fails; hold me more close, 
Lest from thine arms my spirit hasten hence, 

Going that viewless way no mortal knows. 



298 SONNETS. 



CLEOPATRA TO ANTONY. 

Go from me now; I will no longer feel 

Your burning kisses on my fevered lips; 

You shall not hold one moment ev'n the tips 
Of my shut fingers, though you cry and kneel. 
My face aches, and my tired senses reel; 

Through all my veins a drowsy poison slips, 

My sight grows dim with gradual eclipse, 
For slumber on mine eyes has set his seal. 
Get hence; I will no more to-night; the bars 

Of love are placed against you now; go while 
I hate you not, my Roman; the sick stars 

Wax faint and pallid in the dawn's red smile. 
Look! I am quenched in sleep, as nenuphars 

Are quenched in the broad bosom of the Nile. 



SONNETS. 299 



VOX DOLORIS. 

JERUSALEM, B. C, 458. 

Nay, but I loved thee so — and love thee still: 
Look, didst thou not, when thou a stranger wast 
In my far Babylon, the bright, the vast, 

Lead me the happy bondmaid of thy will ? 

Why wilt thou put me from thee ? What dire ill 
Have I wrought on thy heart ? I hold thee fast. 
And cling and cry till life's last hope is past, 

And faith grows sick with fears that scorch and kill. 

Is thy God cruel, that this needs must be ? 
Canst thou forget the love, the dear delight. 

The song, the dance, the mirth and minstrelsy, 
Wherewith the swift days fled, too brief and 
bright ? 

Shall not our babes' sweet voices cry to thee. 
Through all the hollow watches of the night ? 



300 SONNETS, 



PARTING. 

Love, are our lives so long that we may part 

For months and years, nor feel a pang of grief? 

Or is the measure of the days so brief 
That, as they go, they leave no bitter smart 
To trace its dreary record on the heart ? 

O, unto thee is not the fallen leaf, 

The withered landscape, and the rustling sheaf, 
Presageful of a time when we must start 
Upon a longer journey, nevermore 

To come again and clasp each other's hand, 
And look with love into each other's eyes ? 
Lo! here we may not tarry long, for o'er 

Our sight a vapor gathers, and the land 
Lies wrapped in gloom descending from the 
skies. 



SONNETS, 301 



JOY IN SORROW. 

The wan November sun is westering; 

The pale, proud year puts all her glory by; 

Beneath her blue bare feet her vestures lie, 
And white and faint she stands a-shivering: 
And yet the world's great heart is quickening 

Beneath dead leaves and grass grown sere and 
dry. 

And through the silence of the sombre sky 
Throb swift pulsations of a forefelt spring. 
So all our sorrow hath a core of bliss; 

Some prophecy of pleasure tempers pain 
In every heart, and through our bitterness 

Strikes a fierce joy that not a pang is vain; 
Life hath no hidden good that life shall miss. 

For with all loss is mixed some god-like gain. 



302 SONNETS, 



BLIND. 

When first my soul into the shadows sank, 
And darkness surged upon me like a wave, 
I fought the blackness, as a swimmer brave 

Who, losing from his grasp the friendly plank, 

Goes struggling down through ocean's great gray 
blank. 
Then, as one buried trance-bound in a grave 
Wakes to the horror of his narrow cave, 

And shuddering in his cere-cloths, cold and dank, 

Strives to pierce through the void and noisome 
gloom, 
I strove to cleave the night that wrapped me 
round. 

And cried aloud from out my living tomb. 
But now, always in solitude profound, 

I sit and wait beneath my awful doom. 
Till God's light shall break on me like a sound. 



SONNETS, 303 



PATIENCE. 

O God, I pray Thee give me quietude, 

Though it be 'mid the wrecks of broken years; 

Scatter Thou from mine eyes the blinding tears, 
And cool the burning fever in my blood. 
Lo! I am swept away as with a flood; 

My soul is beaten on by stormy fears; 

I cannot see, and ever through mine ears 
Surge empty echoes of the solitude. 
O, teach me to be patient and to wait; 

Teach me to quell that spirit in my breast 
Which irks the slow-paced hours, and cries, "Too 
late!" 

Urge on my heart this lesson — that 'twere best 
To suffer even to death "without the gate," 

If so my soul might enter into rest. 

V 



304 SONNETS, 



WHEN I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE. 

When I have lived my life, and death at last 

Sucks the sweet breath from out my white, cold 
lips; 

When o'er my fixed, faint eyes the swift eclipse 
Of dissolution draws, and thick and fast 
The shadows no man knows crowd up the vast 

Dim vista of eternity; when dips 

My final sun from sight, and darkness slips 
Upon me, quenching utterly the past; 
Then while fond friends around me weep and pray, 

And come to kiss their last kiss, one by one, — 
Ere yet hath faded quite the light of day, 

And ere my mortal sands are fully run, — 
God, grant that I may hear one dear Voice say, 

With love and tenderness, "Well done! well 
done!" 



SONNETS. 305 



HOMESICK. 

Yea, Lord, if it could be, if it could be. 
That I might leave the weariness and pain 
Of this sad exile o'er the soundless main. 

Whose restless waters roll 'twixt me and Thee; 

If — while the day grows wan and shadowy. 
And, like a conqueror amid the slain, 
Night moves with swift proud footsteps o'er the 
plain — 

Death's sudden messenger should come to me 

With summons to depart, I should not go 
As one to whom the journey were a fear. 

But I should gladly leave earth's mimic show, 
And these*dim ways which are so chill and drear. 

And 'mid green fields, where living waters flow, 
Fare homeward after many a weary year. 



3o6 SONNETS. 



''THOUGH HE SLAY ME, YET WILL 
I TRUST IN HIM." 

When these hot pulses cease, O Lord, and all 

The fever and the strife at last are done; 

When, for my feet, the race is well out-run. 
And, spent and weary, from the lists I fall; 
When, deaf to passion's cry and duty's call, 

And reckless of the honors lost or won, 

I turn my forehead toward the setting sun. 
Calm and content to leave the world's rude brawl — 
Then, Lord, for the sweet pity which Thou hast 

Of those who, heavy-laden, worn with pain. 
From out the conflict desolate and vast, 

Cry unto Thee for help, nor cry in vain, 
Grant to forget my weak and wandering past, 

And help me trust Thee while my life is slain. 



SONNETS. 307 



"SWEET ARE THE USES OF 
ADVERSITY." 

Yea, could it be, yea, could it be, that so 
From out this weltering rout of nights and days, 
From out this wild and melancholy maze 

Of thorny paths that wander to and fro. 

We might at will to some fair country go, 
Where hour by hour around the bloomy ways 
The jasmine-scented, happy wind-breath plays, 

And gurgling waters past broad meadows flow — 

Then, would it better be, thus from this round 
Of conflict, toil and tears, wherein men's thews 

Are tried, to go where peans ne'er shall sound, 
Nor gentle Pity weep her precious dews ? 

Ah no!— flowers crushed against the unconscious 
ground 
Give back their perfume to the feet that bruise. 



3o8 SONNETS. 



THE LOVE UNSPEAKABLE. 

** For God so loved the world " — O love divine! 

Love which our human hearts but faintly feel; 

Love whose vast depth no uttered words reveal; 
Love which makes light in this dark soul of mine; 
Behold! we know thee by this awful sign — 

A cross whereon large drops of blood congeal, 

A rock-hewn sepulcher, a shattered seal, 
And a full cup with bitter tears for wine! 
O love unspeakable! Dear love of God! 

Love manifest in measureless sacrifice, 
Teach us to walk the way which Christ hath trod, 

Though sands should scorch our feet, and on 
our eyes 
Smite the fierce desert sun, and briers prod 

Our shrinking flesh — till suffering makes us wise. 



SONNETS. 309 



RIZPAH. 

Blown through the gusty spaces of the night, 

The pale clouds fleet like ghosts along the sky; 

A fitful wind goes moaning feebly by, 
And the faint moon, poised o'er the craggy height. 
Dies in its own uncertain, misty light. 

Within the hills the water-springs are dry; 

The herbs are withered; and the sand-wastes lie 
Dim, wide, and lonely to the weary sight. 
Behold! her awful vigil she will keep 

Through the wan night as through the burning 
day; 
Though all the world should sleep she will not 
sleep, 

But watch, wild-eyed and fierce, to scare away. 
As round and round, with hoarse, low cries they 
creep. 

From her dead sons the hungry beasts of prey. 



310 SONNETS. 



HAGAR. 

Wide wastes of sand beneath a brazen sky; 

Far hills that shimmer in the breathless air; 

And clumps of stunted shrubs that, here and 
there, 
With pale and parched leafage, vex the eye. 
Her bread is spent, her water-skin is dry; 

The child's faint sobbings pierce her with despair; 

Her face is hid, her fallen head is bare; 
"Now, O my God," she crieth, "let me die." 
Hark! from the midmost heavens a deep sound: 

"What aileth thee ? Rise, Hagar, fear thee not, 
For God hath heard the child's voice from the 
ground, 

And He will succor thee in thy sore lot." 
Then she arose, and took the lad, and found 

A crystal fountain in that desert spot. 



SONNETS. ' 311 



CRCESUS. 

B. C. 546. 

"O Solon! Solon! wist ye of this hour, 

When midst the splendors that thine eyes did see, 

Undazzled by my gilded vanity, 
Thou yet didst say how fleet is human power ? 
Lo! from this funeral pyre each flashing tower, 

Each sapphire dome, each gate of ivory, 

Makes all my court a hateful thing to me. 
While here in death's grim shadow now I cower." 
So Croesus cried when fiery death was nigh, 

Remembering Solon's words of long ago; 
Then the great Persian king, who paused hard by. 

Heard the sore wailing of his fallen foe. 
And said: "Unbind him thence, he shall not die; 

Behold, one day I too shall be brought low! " 



312 SONNETS. 



A CITY CRY. 

Here hoarsely moan the floods of human woe, 
And evermore, along the busy streets, 
The iron hoof of traffic loudly beats, 

.And lean-faced avarice shuffles to and fro; 

Here grudgingly the feet of mercy go 
Where gaunt and grimy squalor sits and eats 
Her bitter bread, and here, through foul retreats, 

Death's noisome currents darkly ebb and flow. 

O God, of those sweet airs which blow between 
The emerald hills, let me e'er breathe; keep me, 

Far from the roaring city, in Thy green 
And quiet solitudes, where I may see 

The birds, the flowers, the grass, and sweetly lean 
My heart upon the peace and love of Thee. 



SONNETS. 313 



THE PROPHET'S END. 

Better to hide the weary face awhile; 

Better to let them have it as they will; 

They would but mock thee, scourge thee, harry 
still 
Thy tired soul; go, cease thee from thy toil. 
Flee from these dim vain ways where millions moil, 

And wrangle for a bauble; let them fill 

Each other's restless lives with strenuous ill — 
Thou shalt be free at last from strife and guile. 
Go to thy mother, child, and take thy sleep; 

Go, lay thee, silent, in her cool wide arms; 
Secure from troublous time, in her large keep 

Thou shalt lie peaceful 'mid the world's alarms; 
Go, get thee to thy mother-earth, and creep 

Into her bo^om, where no evil harms. 



314 SONNETS. 



THE TRAVELER. 

When in the dark we slowly drift away 
O'er unknown seas, and busy thoughts at last 
Are quieted, and all the cares are past 

That, bandit-like, infest the realms of day — 

To what pale country does the spirit stray ? 
Within what wan-lit land, what region vast. 
Does this strange traveler journey far and fast, 

Till in the east the day breaks, cold and gray ? 

Ah, tell me, when we slumber, whither goes. 
And whence at waking comes, the silent guest. 

Whose face no man hath seen, whom no man 
knows — 
The dim familiar of each human breast ? 

Behold, at length, when day indeed shall close, 
Will this uneasy traveler, too, have rest ? 



SONNETS. 315 



THE ANGEL OF NIGHT. 

With dusky pinions spread, from out the land 
Of twilight glides the angel of the night, 
And earthward softly plumes her silent flight, 

While gathering darkness from her wings is fanned 

Across the cloud-world, musically and bland. 
Around her flow her garments, sprent with stars, 
As far away, toward the sunset bars. 

She takes her noiseless flight, and from her hand 

Scatters the balm of sleep on all below. 
From off her wings she winnows silver dew 

On slumbering flowers, whose aromas go 
Far in vEolian wanderings, breaking through 

Melodious silence in faint ebb and flow. 
Till fair Aurora peeps from eastern blue. 



3l6 SONNETS. 



ADAM. 

The chaste young world gleamed round him; 
Paradise 

All freshly radiant from the hand of God — 

Its dewy ways by human feet untrod — 
Revealed its virgin beauties to his eyes. 
Above him soared the wondrous turquoise skies; 

Beneath his feet rare flowers gemmed the sod; 

And in the east he saw the morning, shod 
With golden fire, behind the palms arise. 
Not yet the Tempter, with his honeyed wiles, 

Had entered earth to vex the peace thereof. 
But spicy airs roved through the vine-wreathed aisles 

And in the laurel cooed the turtle dove; 
Still, cold and vain were Eden's balmiest smiles 

To lonely Adam — lacking woman's love. 



SONNETS. 317 



THE WATCHER. 

Low hang the clouds, the clouds hang gray and low; 

Upon the far hills falls the thin, cold rain; 

The stream moans through the fields as one in 
pain, 
And madcap winds awake and wildly blow 
The torn and ragged vapors to and fro 

About the ruined garden, where in vain 

One desolate bird, again and yet again, 
Lifts up its single piercing note of woe. 
Hour after jjiour, from yonder shivering wold. 

The drenched leaves o'er the sodden meadows 

fly. 

Till solemnly the darkness, fold on fold, 
Curtains the troubled world from every eye; 

But ah! I still bend o'er her locks of gold, 
And count each thread-like pulse, each fluttering 
sigh. 



3i8, SONNETS. 



WHEN NIGHT IS PAST. 

Ah, when the night is past, and morning breaks 

Above the hills, and from the pastures gray 

The folded mists steal silently away, 
And every leaf its flashing jewels shakes; 
When on the grass the dews burst into flakes 

Of golden fire beneath the streaming day, — 

Then from each vocal copse, and shrub, and spray 
A ringing sound of exultation wakes. 
So, Love, when death's chill night at length is done. 

And from the couches we have pressed so long 
We rise beneath the uncreated Sun, 

Whose glory cloud nor gloom shall ever wrong. 
For us Heaven's heights shall kindle, one by one, 

And on our ears shall strike a sweet, new song. 



SONNETS, 319 



SUNDERED. 

I SHALL not touch her face, her hands again; 

I shall not mingle her warm breath with mine; 

I shall not drink again the nectared wine 
Of her swift kisses, for dear Love is slain. 
Yea, Love Hes cold and dead; but pallid Pain, 

Upon whose haggard cheeks the salt tears shine. 

Hath set upon our brows her blood-red sign 
Of hopeless anguish, like the mark of Cain. 
Upon us Time hath wrought his change, for lo! 

Not now we meet and pass as heretofore, 
Each knowing that which none save us could know — 

How full of love our hearts were to the core; 
But now across life's wide waste fields we go 

Our separate ways, to meet again no more. 



320 SONNETS. 



FLOWN. 

Again in dreams thou comest to my side; 

Again I hear thy voice, again I trace 

The faultless features of thy sunny face — 
Sweet eyes, pure brow, and dimpled cheeks where 

hide 
The frolic sunbeams; once again the wide 

Fair fields smile round us, and thy maiden grace 

Makes sudden light in every dusky place 
Where all day long the dewy shadows bide. 
But thou hast flown — ah! whither hast thou flown ? 

What mortal soul thy dwelling-place may guess ? 
With empty arms, and hopes like dead leaves blown, 

Wearily up time's flinty steep I press; 
Yet, O my Love, love's rugged way is known, 

And I shall find thee crowned with blessedness. 



SONNETS. 321 



OCTOBER. 

October lights her watch-fires on the hill, 

For the days hasten, and the year declines; 

The dusty grapes droop on yellowing vines, 
Plumped with the sweets these last warm hours dis- 
till. 
The stream that loiters downward to the mill 

Wimples amid its reeds and faintly shines. 

At intervals, from out the darkling pines, 
The squirrel repeats his challenge, loud and shrill. 
In vain the sunlight weaves its golden snood 

About the Earth; an unseen pillager, 
Night after night, with fingers chill and rude, 

Despoiling her frail beauty, plucks at her; 
While morn by morn, o'er garden, field and wood. 

The hoar-frost scatters its light minever. 



322 SONNETS. 



ARCHERY. 

I SEE them on a slope of English green; 

Their fair round arms, are shining in the sun; 

I hear their bubbling, brook-like laughter run 
From shade to shade about the lovely scene. 
Again through shaggy boles I catch the sheen 

Of flowing tresses, as of red gold spun. 

The hurtling arrows sing as, one by one, 
They cleave the shadows where the targets lean. 
O Robin Hood, when with thine outlaws all 

Through merry Sherwood thou didst blithely rove. 
Didst thou not with thy ladies, lithe and tall. 

Bend the long self-yew in the charmed grove. 
And while the tense cords rang, did it befall 

That round thee, too, flew viewless darts of love ? 



SONNETS. 323 



ON A FLY LEAF OF DANTE. 

Let whoso enters here remember well, 
That nevermore with unanointed eyes 
Shall he to whom the palms of Paradise 

Have waved a welcome, and the streets of Hell 

Flamed with red terrors, walk where mortals dwell; 
Henceforth he shall behold dim mysteries 
In common things, and how men's destinies — 

Love, hope and death — from obscure founts upwell. 

Thus was it that, with vision sadly keen. 
From shadowy realms of unimagined pain, 

From sun-crowned heights of joy where thou hadst 
been. 
Unto this babbling world thou cam'st again; 

But always on thy woe, O Florentine, 
Thy saint's sweet memory fell like summer rain. 



324 SONNETS. 



A POET'S GRAVE. 



Ay, grant it, friend, it is a lowly bed, 
Pranked with the daisies that he held so dear, 
And with the pale, pure violets nodding near, 

Like those he clasped when first they found him 
dead. 

To curious questioners let it be said: 

*' He sang his songs the world paused not to hear, 
And now he lieth where no late, slow tear 

Can answer for the love he sought instead." 

Young? Yes, ah, very young he was to die; 
He had so much to live for! His was joy 

Unspeakable to see the morning lie 
Upon the hills, and bliss without alloy 

To see the sunset flush along the sky; 
But dawn nor dusk shall wake him now — poor 
boy! 

II. 

He loved the sunlight and he loved the rain; 

He loved the darkness and he loved the light; 

He loved the morning and he loved the night; 
He loved the meadows and he loved the main. 
To see the springtime blossom he was fain, 

And winter's snows were goodly in his sight; 

Yea, all the seasons in their rapid flight 
Brought joy to him, though not unmixed with pain. 



SONNETS. 325 

But now he lieth where the fallen leaf 
Begets no vague regret within his breast, 

And never summer-tide, however brief, 
Can mar the sweetness of his hallowed rest. 

He sleeps secure from dreams of joy or grief, 
And in his dreamless slumber he is blest. 



326 SONNETS. 



EDMUND SPENSER. 

How have the years flown since that golden day 
When, where the Mulla rolls her dimpling flood, 
Thou heard' st the birds sing in the Irish wood. 

And Raleigh with thee on the upland lay! 

Again through gloomy forests old and gray, 
O'er many a waste and trackless solitude, 
Whithersoe'er thy Muse's knightly mood 

May lead us in thy tale, we seem to stray. 

O master, it was not on oaten reeds 
Thou madest music for the world's delight, 
Nor yet on Pan's shrill pipe didst thou e'er flute; 

To sing of courtly grace and lordly deeds, 
Of lovely Una and the Redcross Knight, 
Behold! thou hadst Apollo's silver lute. 



SONNETS. 327 



LONGFELLOW. 

MARCH 24, 1882. 

Within the old historic house he lay, 

Quiet at last in restless heart and brain; 

Without his chamber the wan light did wane 
And the March twilight gathered, chill and gray. 
But all unheedful of the wasting day, 

He lay and slept; and still he sleeps; in vain 

The morning sun shall gild his window-pane — 
His soul hath fared forth on an unknown way. 
O sweetest psalmist of our Israel, 

What new glad words now thrill upon thy tongue! 
In what far country hast thou gone to dwell ? 

Through what fresh changes are thy numbers 
rung? 
Lo! thou didst leave us, taking no farewell, 

And now we weep that thy last song is sung. 



328 SONNETS. 



SALVE ET VALE. 

{Robert Browning Died at Venice Dec. 12, 1889.) 

Friend whom I never knew, hail and farewell! 

On what far voyage hath thy spirit gone ? 

What darkling tides, mysterious and lone, 
Against thy seaward prow upleap and swell ? 
What fine immortal strains have hushed the shell 

Whereon thou mad'st a music all thine own ? 

Unto the distant coast whence they were blown. 
What voices lure thee with resistless spell ? 
Lo! from the city's clanging thoroughfares, 

From many a kindly face and friendly door, 
From dew-wet fields, clear sounds and morning airs, 

From all that thou hast loved and sung of yore, 
Thou sett'st thy helm, and on thy brave bark bears 

Thee to some dim and unimagined shore. 



SONNETS. 329 



GRAPES OF ESCHOL. 

Wondering they came; they had strange tales to tell 
Of purple hills and valleys half divine, 
Of amber plains which did like morning shine, 

And cool, clear springs which ever did upwell. 

Wistful they came; and 'twixt them, like a bell, 
Swung downward the dark grapes, the goodly sign 
Of plenty in a land of oil and wine — 

The goal of rest to way-worn Israel: 

So I, a spy from realms where Summer sings 
'Mid billowy fields with radiant blossoms starred. 

Bring these the promisers of rarer things 
That wait the coming of the chosen bard — 

The shining soul who seeks life's mystic springs, 
And counts no knowledge vain, no journey hard. 



330 SONNETS. 



THE BELATED PIPER. 

I KNOW that mine is but a bubbling pipe, 
Blown in some lonely valley where the trees, 
And flowers, and grass, and vagrant birds and 
bees, 

Alone the music hear; long since was ripe 

The time for piping; now swart fingers wipe 
The sweat from labor's brow, and weary knees 
Faint in the market-place; yea, none seek ease 

By streams where still some simple antitype 

Of happy Pan trims him a slender reed 
With nimble hands, and softly, sweetly winds 

A tremulous melody. Yet every weed. 

All common wayside herbs, and careless vines, 

Teach the deep secret of our human need — 
The calm man ever seeks but never finds. 



